Ah, mes amis - Fille Contest - Alfredo Kraus

[David50s]

I had the privilege of seeing Kraus in this role and as Edgardo in Lucia di Lamermoor, both times opposite Joan Sutherland. What a wondeful experience. I also was present to see Florez do an encore a few seasons back. I think Kraus is one of the most underrated of the great tenors.

[Agorante]

Kraus' voice was probably a whole tone higher than Pavarotti's. He sang high E Flats in his first recital disk. I heard both do Nerorino in the same production in the late sixties. Big P had a better, richer, warmer voice but Kraus gave a better performance. Pav simply didn't know the part - just the aria. The part of Tonio was intended for small. very high voices like that of Florez. It was an oddity that a mainstream tenor like Pav could sing it at all.

[Turandotopera]

I was back stage at the MET and saw and heard Pavarotti tell Kraus: IO NON PUO CANTARE QUETS'ARIA COME TU (I can't sing this aria like you) Kraus received standing ovation from the whole audience, and I mean, the whole audience, near

4, 000 people

[ersoubi]

In my opinion, even though Pavarotti had a beautiful voice, Kraus was unsurpassable. This is not perhaps the greatest example, but his technique, phrasing and voice are even here exquisite. Both were great tenors, but for me Kraus was something more.He had elegance AND feeling. I cannot but always find something great in his performances. He was a great artist. Thanks for posting!

[ersoubi]

Well, some things change, and some don't. My love for Kraus will never change. For me, he was one of the greatest tenors ever. That, however doesn't mean that other tenors are not worth. I think his Tonio oposite Sutherland as the best, because he was 10 years younger than in this one.However, this performance is class, something that Pavarotti(his main competitor in this role) never had, despite his truly beautiful voice. Also a lesson in tequnique. Truly amazing, espacially considering his age

[tenortw]

Nobody beats this man in the technique arena. Nobody.

[hmderka]

Once I was so lucky to hear Alfredo Kraus in this opera in Vienna.

It was quite strange, because all was sung in german, only Kraus sang french.

But it was great, unforgettable and unsurpassable.

[nobodyimportant09]

Wow! A whole bunch of insecure Pavarotti fans :)

[AliciaDupres]

Nobody sings this aria like Pavarotti. Nobody, nobody. He reached the perfection.

[ilconte1963]

nessuno come pavarotti!!!!!!!!

[Cissy97]

Great stuff!

JDF pales by comparison.

I agree that Pav and Kraus were the greatest exponents of this role of Tonio.

Kraus in particular had the most perfect bel canto technique in a tenor.

Pav had the greatest bel canto voice.

[malmelo]

Although Pavarotti is the biggest reference for this aria, I think Krauss very impressive! Pavarotti certainly had a better voice for this aria, but Krauss, with a great personality, can give a more masculine tone to this aria. I love watching Krauss singing this aria. In my humble opinion, there is nobody who can sing this aria better than Pavarotti and Krauss.

[fabiancamposparedes]

los agudos les salen ahogado, excepto el del final, he escuchado otra interpretación suya de esta area mejor

[joserico282]

Wow! This is really quite impressive. One question...WHY is Pavarotti NOT in this contest??? It's like leaving Maria Callas out of a Norma contest.

[nadopera90]

bravissimo!!

[Los3JInetes]

Impresionante!!!

[adamoperaman]

I love Kraus!!!! Thank you for posting this. His tech is great for him..I have heard his C's sound better though, more clear and ringy, They sound a little tense and muffled except for the final, any way I am a huge fan!..Check out Kraus' Je crois en tendre."

[alfredokrauss10]

My sweet tenor!

[kyzdio]

Inigualable, esta ópera sólo la han cantado tenores jovenes,incluso Pavarotti se quedó colgado en su última representación con 40 años y tubo que salir un suplente a escena a terminar el aria.Tiene un mérito increible cantar en estas tesituras,como nadie y a su edad.-

[fabiancamposparedes]

en serio?? lo de pavarotti no lo sabia, que decepción

[chaguino]

Kraus Y Pavarotti,y Todos los demas.

[airmotion1]

Einzigartige Performance. Kein Tenor der heutigen Zeit kann ihn in diesem Bereich das Wasser reichen. Da ist Florez überhaupt kein Thema. Live ist seine Stimme ohne die nötige Reichweite,

[johneunson]

this man can deliver. this is a spendid performance. does he look a bit too old for the role? and, no i'm not comlaining, his voice is wonderful. 5++

[flaviotrue]

He is one of the greatest. Great technique. But his voice, being one of the most powerful voices in opera, is not so beautiful.

Anyway, he's one of my favorites.

[upatoia]

If you like ALFREDO KRAUS check THE 30 TENORS in my playlist SUPER TENOR ARIAS ( including CLAUDIO SOTELO performing ARIA DEL CIRUJANO as a world première for YOU TUBE ) and tell me which one you prefer.

[PavarottiForever]

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI 1973!!!!!

[jcbcn751]

THE BEST!!! El mejor tenor de todos los tiempos, a su lado Flórez sólo es un aficionadillo...

[stefano7159]

I agree is a beautiful and powerful voice, perfect technique, but florez sound more beautiful................

[zionzion61]

you don`t have any idea about bel canto.he is perfect in tecnique and in style and in buon gusto singinging and in fraseo,and musicalitè,one of the bests in history,and he sings better as time passed,because nobody now knows how to sing,baritons doing tenor.

[ioSonoCallas]

Alfredo Kraus is a great artist, certainly, but the manner to nasalizes almost all the sounds hangs with violence on the palate always irritated me! his singing is very conceited! Kraus is a very great artist, i preferred his performances in the years 1958 to 1978

[MatheusStradivari]

I personally hate his voice...regardless his technique.

[idraote]

Mr Kraus lacked only one thing: the ease, the spirit of youth. His singing is often perfect, always outstanding but characters such as Tonio suffer from this lack of his.

And yet how many tenors can sing like he used to today?

[lavoreano]

Well, he was 56 on this performance, you can't expect youth out of him...

[idraote]

Actually I do, from an opera singer of any age, expect a consequent rendition of his/her character: actual youth is quite hard for a singer to show: most of them achieve international reknown well after their 40th birthday but good acting can make up.

I'm not asking them to LOOK young (the stage is very far and helps) but to act as if they were when the character needs it.

And I repeat willingly, this is the only fault I've ever found in Mr Kraus, an outstanding artist from all points of view

[Webarton]

Pavarotti lost his top at the end of his career. Kraus, at 70+ sings A mes amis flawlessly, I CAN state that one is technically superior, Kraus in fact is. Personally, I do prefer Pavarotti's singing/voice. However, Kraus's nasality u speak of is only a product of perfect technique... that is just how his VOICE sounds when the technique is employed... Pav sounds differently, and Gigli/Bjorling also sound differently.. the approach is the same, FOCUSING the tone in the mask, and HEAD.

[micioamilano]

Puñ anche darsi ma intanto Pavarotti aveva una voce molto più piena nel registro medio e grave essendo stato un tenore lirico puro ed è anche naturale che certi acuti non vengano con la stessa facilità con l'età..e ti ricordo che era anche malato a 70 anni..

[ilkertenor]

sound should sound in whole body not only in mask...doesnt mean i dont appriciate what kraus did in his long carrer

[Honken]

French opera is sung in the mask, which is why Kraus was so perfect for it.

[petion2010]

@Webarton Yeah, but Kraus was a Lirico-Leggiero Tenor, while Pavarotti was a full Lyric Tenor. Some people even argues (even that I don't agree) that at the end of his career Pavarotti's voice mature to a Lirico-Spinto. So Kraus was way lighter than Pavarotti, thus naturally easier to reach high note, maintaining his top.

[nobodyimportant09]

@petion2010

Kraus might have been somewhat lighter, but probably his constant work and study also had something to do with the fact that he kept his top....

[apologeticacattolica]

@Webarton The approach is not the aame at all. Pavarotti's production is different. That much is self-evident from simply looking at them sing.

[jaketaz]

@Webarton

Thank you for being a person who understands what is happening. This is correct. Kraus still sounded nasal at 70, and the fact that he sounded the same at that age as he did in his prime PROVES that he had technical mastery Pavarotti never did.

[8x8MaVerick8x8]

@Webarton Part of that isn't necessarily technique related, it may be choice related. My personal opinion, which many disagree with, is that Pav went way, way too far down the road of heavy literature. It made him famous, and for someone who I don't think should have been singing much of the rep he did, he did it very, very well. But I think the Pagliaccis and the Cavaradossis might take a toll on a voice that was intended for much lighter repertoire

[1212625bear]

Pavarotti had high C Db and D when he was young more or less the same extension of kraus but kraus still had it( at least high c ) when he was 70 years old. Two different techniques at all. Pavarotti was more naturally gifted than aware of his voice. Aniway they both made a really good job.

[ChrisStockslager]

Actually, Kraus could go up to Eb, and still sing Ds into his sixties, but that being said, I do prefer the timbre of Pavarotti's voice much better.

[SergioJarlaz]

GREAT

[sweetaliena]

Top 3: Kraus for is technique, Pavarotti for is characterization and Florez for is diction.

[Webarton]

FLOREZ?!?! wtf

[Mooorhe]

Pavarotti is far vocally superior. Where is the happiness in this piece of singing from Kraus? Technically, everything is in place (save the diction), but Tonio is finally going to marry the woman he loves; you hear no joy in Kraus's version. I'd take Pavarotti's over this any day... I'd even take Florez's over this.

[mestrehistoria]

In my opinion in this piece, Kraus sing with the best technica and if you dont ear the happy voice you must learn very much of music. Sorry if my english not is good but i am spanish.

[Mooorhe]

Kraus's and Pavarotti's techniques were very different, there is no single correct way to sing.

I know a fair bit about music, but you should probably know that hearing a 'happy voice' has nothing to do with musical knowledge; it's to do with emotion. It is my opinion based on my emotions that Kraus's rendition lacks joy and no amount of musical knowledge will change that.

[Webarton]

actually, they were similar in many ways in techniques... the difference was in the voice iteself... 2 completely different voices. Actually, a deeper understanding of technique will make u appreciate Kraus's version better, because he in fact does have a superior technique.

[Mooorhe]

Their techniques differed in many ways as well, and as I stated, there is no single correct way to sing. I appreciate Kraus's rendition, but I don't like his singing in general, the sound is too nasal for my liking.

They had different techniques and a completely different method of approaching the passagio. So therefore you cannot state that one is superior.

[Webarton]

You are wrong about the difference in approaching the passagio... they did in fact use the same approach.. focusing the tone completely in the mask.. the main difference between the 2 techniques is that pavarotti did incorporate a bit of a gravely trumpety type sound behind his tone. The secret that all the greatest technical singers use is basically this.. you sing COMPLETELY ABOVE the soft palate, ALL SINGING is above the roof the the mouth..

[NEMORINO1976]

I agree with you,Webarton

[luciano1935]

Solo Flórez es comparable con ésta belleza!! Pavarotti c acerca muy poco, al igual que Van der Walt, pero esta maestría está llegando a la perfección. Es la segunda mejor interpretación de tonio que he escuchado... sólo detrás de Flórez

[quicky281185]

luciano will be allways the best !!!

[martinslivia]

florez is the best peformer of this aria,hightest c ever according to Domingo s sight.Kraus and florez are very alike....

[rychehed]

miles better than florez,kraus had skill and better technical ability.

[ivansperanza]

You know what you're talking about, Florez is just another bad product of the media.He'll always live in the shadow of the real singers.

[MrNigribov]

@ivansperanza

He is not really living in the shadow right now. At least he is not Villazon, and has enough taste and intelligence to appreciate Kraus....but not enough to compare with him.

[Fayrfax1]

sdfaljksfadk;lfsdkl;'zdf;kl'fd­sasd;'fkl

[noncondition]

G R E A T

[cornificius22vain]

His high C are admirable for someone of his age, but they sound too forced - and yes of course, I'll say it: to see what I mean, compare this to Pava or Florez.

[Mooorhe]

This is Pavarotti's Opera. Admiral effort from Kraus, but his attempt doesn't touch Maestro Pavarotti's.

[gruberosa]

What does that mean? Can you elaborate. What sort of parameters are you talking about? I need you to give me meat not just bones.

[hansquad]

Pavarotti holds the last high C longer than Kraus did.

[gruberosa]

So?

[hansquad]

Not just longer, but i think it's better in the quality, the sound, the ringing too. I am speaking here about Pav's best prime voice when he did it. But I know Kraus is unique in his own class.

[tonyantony1]

I have seen him live twice ,his voice was rounder and fresher in the theater.By the way could Pavarotti sing this aria with such style? Kraus sang it without transposing it down till his late 60's.Pavarotti dropped the role at the age of 38.His attempt to sing the role in 1995 was disastrous.He had to transpose the aria half a step down and he cracked on all high B's.

[Mooorhe]

Pavarotti was very wise to drop it at 38. End it on a good note... Unlike Kraus, who kept trying to squeeze yet another performance out... He didn't leave perfection in the ears of the listener like Pavarotti. Listen to his appalling diction... Especially on the 'J'ai sa flamme'. Pavarotti sings that phrase perfectly... For Kraus, it came out something like 'Jei ma aaaagh'

[tonyantony1]

No comparison between Pavarotti and Kraus.Pavarotti had a great voice but he never got any clue about interpretation.He even said Puccini should be considered a bel-canto composer.Kraus had impeccable style and musicality,his interpretations were always artistic triumphs.

[tonyantony1]

He didn't lack squillo ,he controlled the high C's in order to maintain elegance.Since it's not a dramatic aria the high notes shouldn't be belted out except the last high C.Kraus used to place his voice in the mask, it was impossible for him to lack squillo since his technique was based on focusing the voice.He had ringing high notes but his high register had the same color with the his middle register,it didn't get lighter as he moved higher.His voice was seamless from the bottom to the top.

[noncondition]

Really a true masterclass of the great Alfredo Kraus. The score 4,5/4 out of 5.

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Lacaf-You're not talking to your father you little fiddlestick who obviously missed to teach you some core decency. Mind your senseless words. Now get lost.

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Lacaf-Pavarotti was weak at the top and antimusical? And we're supposed to get our ears cleaned? It seems operatic history must re-written after your enlightening comment as everybody to date seems to be wrong according to you! Note the sarcasm. Now get lost you little fiddlestick. You do not make any sense!

[lacaf1]

No comparison between pavarotti and Kraus.The class the pitch and the ring on the top notes were perfect.pavarotti was weak at the top and antimusical.

Clean your ears and stop defending the impossible ,you bunch of ignorant "pav fans" you sound and are pathetic.

[Cesconegre]

In this aria, Pavarotti's high Cs are better.

[Mooorhe]

This operatic roles is Pavarotti's. End of story.

3/3

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Try Pavarotti 1967 Covent Garden and

1972 Metropolitan Opera NYC. He was the best Tonio indeed. I have been to the April 21 rendition by Florez. It was remarkable as well, although (naturally) a much lighter voice.

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Although I like Kraus, when it came to top notes his nasality has gotten even more nasal. His C5's were damn good but never as explosive as Pava's. Nor did he have as good a squillo as Pava's. Clean your ears. You'd be ridiculed among opera connaisseurs (friends and foes alike) if you asserted that Pava's top C's were weak.

[gpz74]

Kraus was not at all nasal, not even on top notes. There's a difference of nasal sound and a really use of the "mask" kind of sound and definitely Kraus uses the second technique. As an exercise make your voice nasal and block your nose, of course sound will stay inside, now if you start nasal and send carefully your sound to the mask and then block your nose, the sound will still out and more on the "mask". There's a CD recording of a Master Class given by Kraus where he explains it perfectly.

[aliszht]

indeed

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Lacaf-I suppose people in Covent Garden and the Met were deaf in 1967 and 1972. You're brain and hearing functions work selectively it seems. I'd suggest you check the live performances of La Fille du Regiment on YouTube or find someone old enough who were lucky to have attended those history making live performances.

[lacaf1]

As usual you insult other's people just because they don't agree with you you dumb fuck bastard ignorant son of a bitch scum of the earth piece of shit.

That is the way you like to be treated right?

Pavarotti my ass,you clean your ears and wash your fucking mouth before even pronouncing Krause's name.

All the"old people"I talked to greed with me as for the live perfomances...they are pathetic.Go into tratment you fuck.

[mig82]

I must say, though Florez is my personal favourite, this clip of Kraus really blew my mind out! He was awesome and for his age, my respects! 5/5

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Pavarotti was in a class by itself when this aria is concert. Held the final top C for 9-10 second for heaven's sake!

[lacaf1]

I heard myself pavarotti at La Scala doing this opera and did not hold anything for that length of time,maybe in the recording is like that but on the stage his high c's were small and almost to a breaking point.

No comparison with Kraus.

[rubenbirquiqui]

I love Kraus, but you should here this aria bay Gregory Kunde. Amazing !!!!!!

[mdcam89]

hey coloratura fan... why did u exclude the King of this aria Luciano Pavarotti from your list???

Thats kind of insulting to his legend.

[busybee218]

everyone has their own test, you prefer Luciano Pavarotti, doesn't mean others have to follow your preference. there were many very good tenors before Luciano Pavarotti, to name few: Beniamino Gigli -- had a wonderful technique of singing; Tito Schipa; and Giuseppe di Stefano was Luciano Pavarotti' idol, when you only mentioned Luciano Pavarotti, are you insulting all those great tenors as well?

[busybee218]

coloratura posting those clips really means well for opera lovers to enjoy some great performances, we should pay respect to those people who willing to share their good collections, instead of making the place like party politics forum.

[busybee218]

Alfredo Kraus is my favorite! I wasn't born in his time to see his performance in person, but I did a lot of research & compare him with other top tenors, he's really the best in both singing & acting! There's a tape found lately for his 1958 debut in Lisbon with Maria Callas in La Traviata, I wish the media company remaster it to DVD, I love to have it add to my collection of Callas & Kraus.

[Andante735]

How about the fact the he sang brilliantly and intelligently throught his entire career. He never sacrificed his voice to suit his ego, unlike some others. If anyone else knows of a singer that sounded like this at his age, please let me know. By the way, the Traviata with Callas is some of the most exquisite singing he ever did, and I've only heard pieces of it. 5/5.

[busybee218]

i have Callas & Kraus 1958 Traviata live recording on cds, EMI digital re-mastered in the '80s. i wish they had recorded on film though.

[latraviata1853]

He's the only tenor I've ever heard that sings the Cs from the top going down instead of the bottom going up. He also doesn't spring his mouth open. Brilliant in this repertoire. 5/4

[GermanOperaSinger]

Florez seems to attack the C's from the top too. Kraus has the best bel canto technique however.

5/4

[latraviata1853]

You're right. I just saw him live in broadcast from the Met singing Tonio and his Cs were phenomenal. He also sang a D flat in the second act aria that was quite impressive and emotive.

[busybee218]

i saw Florez 2 weeks ago at the Met, he's good among the new stars, but for me i still prefer Kraus. Florez' voice is little bit too fragile to me. there's a young tenor Matthew Polenzani, i saw him few times this year, i prefer his voice among the new stars.

[jhvorotin]

not sure. He attacks the Cs but they don't sound powerful. He seems to be stressed. The Cs are veiled. However his last Cs is the best of all in this aria. Pavarotti and Florez are definitely better for me

[jhvorotin]

for me, Kraus is worth 3,5/5. Not consistent enough, some notes sound really good others less. His legato is not so good. Acting too. He seems to be overwhelmed by his high C's. He should not think about them just sing them, as JD Florez said in oneof his interviews. so 3,5/5

[RossiniSoprano]

Well, we'll see how JDF is singing them when *he's* nearly 60! Bravo Kraus!

[corellilover]

shut the fuck up!

[jblo9]

Kraus might not seem big name to you, 5 letters, but he is to most tenor lovers

[vanzofaust]

Kraus was either 60 or 56 here. It's an amazing performance at any age. 5/5

[elreydeldo]

coincido con acitipo totalmente. El do4 de Luciano no tiene rival ni en potencia ni en frescura ni en limpieza ni en belleza. Es algo único y como tal jamás se volverá a repetir. No digo que fuera el mejor cantante pero en su repertorio es inigualable.

[LucianoKraCore]

5/5

[LucianoKraCore]

5/5

[hyataganh]

CABA BOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!

[LucianoKraCore]

Mil comentarios y todos diferentes , pero es asombrosa la calidad tecnica de este gran tenor canario, Joerling otro de los magnificos , voces nacidas para el bell canto.

[andycute70]

You should also review one of Florez' best performances at suffix v=tgqpQKEXtYQ (you know the rest).

[acitipo]

Krauss fue un gran tecnico, y podia cantar con mucha facilidad los do,do#,re,re#, y mi natural. pero el do mas bello es de Pavarotti,incluso mas bello, mas redondo, que el de JDF.

[DimenticoCallas]

¿Que te hace pensar que el de Pavarotti es el mas bello?

al menos a mi nada, tiene voz bella , pero no la más bella... el mejor do4 es el de di stefano - escucha el que hace en fauso en una versión en vivo muy famosa que no recuerdo donde ni cuando- . Escucha el Do4 Penetrante, hermoso y arrebatador de Del Monaco o Corelli. Pavarotti es bueno; pero no el mejor ni en belleza, ni en tecnica, ni menos en interpretación - en interpretación incluyo la expresividad y emotividad-

[LucianoKraCore]

Soy admirador de Pavarotti un enorme artista como Kraus pero debemos reconocer que la enorme calidad tecnica de kraus es algo mas.

[aguacun]

There are a LOT of good high C's at youtube by tenors singing this aria. But good singers of the ENTIRE aria...??? I always back to Kraus!

[kateholli]

5/5

perfect

the best performance posted.

Florez sings it technically impeccably either, but I prefer the more spinto-oriented voice of the absolutely UNIQUE Alfredo Kraus.

Will Florez last this long? We'll see.

[donthuis]

For a lyrical tenor he is quite powerfull in voice. But I find that his voice tends to irritate me over time and I do not know why.. And as far as high C's are concerned, the fact that someone can reach them should not be overrated. It's about emotion & bravoura and as with Pavarotti: sometimes a high C helps..

[amarrosapozi]

Todo el mundo que entienda de Ópera sabe que Kraus fue un tenor lírico-ligero, y que por lo tanto hacía mucho mejor los "sobreagudos" que Pavarotti. Luego ya entran cuestiones de gustos acerca del timbre y otros aspectos. Actualmente el mejor tenor ligero es Juan Diego Florez, cuya interpretación de esta aria es mucho mejor que la de los dos anteriores.

[Merryjest]

Su voz era ligera, pero debido a su técnica Kraus tenía la proyección de un tenor spinto sin necesitar usar la fuerza para ser escuchado. Kraus es un maestro del canto inteligente.

[LucianoKraCore]

A flores le falta cuerpo en su voz y recuerda esto que te dire, Florez es joven aun , pero date cuenta que florez empuja mucho en ocasiones sobre todo cuando reliza fiorituras o pasajes rapidos.Escucha la jota del trust y te daras cuenta de lo que digo, la voz de Florez sin cuerpo es obsorbida por la orquesta.Kraus era una tecnica perfecta.

[TheInquisitive]

The final C5 is most impressive. But the others are not. He doesn't have the explosiveness of Pavarotti's C5's in this aria. But I like Kraus. He was an excellent tenor.

[susejf]

The hich c's are 9 and not five.There is nothing wrong on any but the fact that the first 8 are more contained in order to give full space for the final one,this is just perfection technically and artistically.I heard Pavarotty at La Scala in the Italian version and his high c's were small,flat and forced.

To compare Kraus with Pavarotty on delivery of this aria is like comparing a Fiat car with a Rolls Royce.

[operanord]

From the time when the light repertory was sung by men - bravo!

[vanzofaust]

5/5 absolute perfection!

[kronprinz77]

Perfecto. Nadie ha cantado La Fille du Regiment mejor que Kraus. Pavarotti gritaba más, pero no dominaba la técnica (ni siquiera sabía música). Bravo maestro.

[lelila2006]

Virile is just the word--I much prefer Kraus' robust tenor to lighter, "prettier" voices, although here he swallows a bit all but the last high C... or am I being too picky? Lovely legato passages.

[garconfrancais01]

know i totally agree...especially his first two high c's

[potitodos]

I find this to be an excellent performance, rendition, acting and most of all conveying the essence!!!!Pavarotti whom I love, was twice his size, nevertheless Kraus seems to be more meaningfull!!!!?????

[BARREDA1976]

yes its a more virile voice than florez but i prefer the pavarotti version

[aguacun]

Yes! Is more viril because he sings with a different (the corrrect) way of breath control... so he use for the color of his voice the body and not only the head... head and body  mixture... nowdays tenors do not sing like this.. too many "white" voices. I like more Pavarotti's sound... but not his frecnch! ;)

[abdelsa7]

The pursuit of perfection. 5/5

[Agorante]

Some things to remember: Kraus is probably 55 or older here. Kraus was never loved for the beauty of his voice. He was loved in spite of his voice. AT the time he his voice was described as "honey and vinegar". I heard Kraus in Elixir in the sixties. The next year it was brought back with the same cast (Wixell, Bruscantini, Grist) but with Pavarotti. Kraus was better (except for the aria of course). Kraus gave a performance. Big P didn't know the music(except for the aria of course).

[sefjet]

I saw him this rol in Barcelona 1985. Just perfect

[setantacuchulain]

Outstanding. I really love Kraus' voice, because, unlike many tenors, his timbre is particularly authoritative, virile I'd say. Then, the last C is just amazing.

5/5

[Operaphile]

Stunning, except for a few niggly pitch issues. But, what a voice, what a technique!!!! For me, it's first equal between Pavarotti, Kraus and Florez - each special in their own way!

5/5

[hisimperialmajesty]

Very good. As a matter of persona preference, I like Pavarotti better for this role. But it most certainly cannot be denied that Senor Kraus exhibits flawless technique and excellent high notes. The clear winner of this contest. 5/5

[LucianoKraCore]

Kraus is the best for this role:  5/5.

[dutchtallguy]

Mr. Kraus is always very full of himself. Not a pleasant character. Good diction. Sounds out of breath at times. Why the Hitler moustage... I could not listen to his voice for a longer time. Top C's do not come easy, but impressive closing note. 3/3

[Liwah]

I agree. His legato is also awful.

[DramatisPersone]

5/5. the perfect singing technique.

[sediziosevoci]

5/5

[tehen162]

4/4

[watchstone]

Not quite as good vocally as the 1983 version - but oh my God what stage presence! He doesn't even have to move around much and he still caries the role 4.9/5

[spgtenor]

This is his aria!

[tinyvoicedgheorghiu]

Just fabulous!

[Orfeus80]

I like his elegant presence. The size of the voice puts it in a different league than most others. In the absence of Pavarotti I think Kraus deserves to win. 5/5

[janejones11]

A very elegant, stylish artist. He is in his 50s here so he sounds a bit dry but still better than many tenors years younger! The high notes are still there and his french is beautiful.

4/5

[cucuchi1]

3/4

[ck8289]

5/5

[kraber]

Aristocratic singing, and aristocratic characterization. 5/5

[sevoflurane]

Great! 5/5

[BeauTenor]

I have to add too, as an afterthought, isn't it saying something about how amazing a singer Pavarotti was to think that we will ALWAYS compare everyone singing this to him? It's unavoidable. Even though the French wasn't perfect, you just couldn't TOUCH that sound.

[BeauTenor]

hmmm....some days I love Kraus, and some days I'm indifferent. But, that's my failing, not his. He was an amazing singer, even though his voice does not suit some tastes. 5/5

[fof1978]

Kraus is always very statuesc in this role! Fits it like a glove :-)

Have to agree though with tklogan11809... its sad there is nothing with Pavarotti.

5/5

[Jabe88]

Kraus is sheer perfection

5/5

[lasultanica]

MUCHAS GRACIAS COLORATURAFAN

[tklogan11809]

Kraus reigns supreme as Tonio. But a Fille contest without Pavarotti is not really a contest. 5/5

[coloraturafan]

I agree.. I wish that I had a video of Pavarotti singing this aria. When I collected the videos for this contest, I looked over a dozen Pavarotti concerts to see if maybe I had it somewhere... but I never found one. If anyone knows of a telecast concert or video where Pavarotti sang this aria, I may very well have it somewhere on dvd or vhs.

[rawdonqueen]

Kraus is the standard in this music, and he is in even better voice than he was in 1983. 5/5