A great Finnish baritone has died
main
Photo: Masterclass 2011, photo (c) Marion Kalter/Lebrecht Music&Arts
Tom Krause, one of the first post-War Finns to conquer the world stage, died on December 5, aged 79.
After a spell as a member of the Hamburg State Opera, he made a 1963 Glyndebourne debut at the Count in Richard Strauss’s Capriccio and bookings followed at the Met, Salzburg, Paris and Milan.
He was highly esteemed for Mozart roles. UPDATE: Read an exclusive tribute by one of his pupils here.
He was not only a wonderful singer (I remember having been bowled over by the sheer power and shining metal of his Pizarro with Maazel), but an absolutely delightful person and a great teacher.
I first heard Tom Krause in the above cited Fidelio. Tom was a consummate musician, a finer singer and teacher, a man who never put on airs. As John Culshaw, Producer of the first stereo Ring commented, referring to Kristen Flagstad & Birgitt Nilsson, there is something about Scandinavian voices–Bjorling, too, e.g. Tom was of big help to me when I was struggling to properly sing several Russian arias for a senior recital. I understood the sonorities, etc. I’ve spoken fluent German almost since birth but I am Polish on my mother’s side. But I had great difficulty actually singing Russian. I sought out Tom after a Master Class, explained my dilemma. He was very generous with his time and advice. Not all musicians are as proficient, capable teachers as they are performers. Tom Krause excelled in both roles and as a fine human being.