Philip Kraus

Philip Kraus (born November 17 1950) is an American operatic baritone and stage director known for his performances with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, starting in 1991, and for his co-founding of Light Opera Works, a professional light opera company in Chicago, in 1980.

Early training

Kraus was born in New York City and received early musical training. As a child, he developed a keen interest in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. In addition to singing, he also composed music and conducted choirs.

Kraus studied music education at Northwestern University and eventually earned a Doctor of Music in Applied Voice from that institution in 1986. He studied voice with tenor Walter Carringer, choral music with Margaret Hillis, and opera with Robert Gay, a disciple of Boris Goldovsky. He participated in the 1974 American premiere of Sir Michael Tippett's "The Knot Garden" at Northwestern, singing the role of Mangus. [Review of "The Knot Garden" by Alan Swanson in "Opera News", April 13, 1974 p. 23]

Operatic and concert career

In 1979, Kraus made his professional debut singing the role of the Vicar in Benjamin Britten's "Albert Herring" with the Chicago Opera Theater. ["'Albert Herring' warm, tuneful and humorous," by Valerie Scher; review of "Albert Herring" in the "Chicago Sun Times", April 13, 1979] He later played the title role in "Gianni Schicchi" with the company. [ [http://www.memphisflyer.com/backissues/issue582/mfea582.asp Undated review of "Gianni Schicci" from the "Memphis Flyer" interactive website (Issue 582)] ] With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in 1979, he sang in Handel's "Dettingen Te Deum" and the Chicago premiere of American composer Russell Woollen's "In Martyrium Memoriam". [Chicago Symphony Orchestra Program Booklet, 88th Season, 15th Subscription Week, Jan. 25-27, 1979] Also in 1979, he recorded the role of Zweiter Gefangene in Beethoven's "Fidelio" with the CSO, conducted by Sir Georg Solti. [ [http://k.1asphost.com/clor/ALCUSOLT.HTM Lists cast of recording of "Fidelio"] ]

Kraus began a long association as soloist with the Grant Park Concerts in Chicago in 1979, performing Haydn's "Mass in Time of War" under conductor Thomas Peck. ["Grant Park Chorus lifts voices in Edwardian fest," by John Von Rhein; review of Haydn Mass in the "Chicago Tribune", Aug. 18, 1979] He followed this singing Elgar's "The Kingdom", under Leonard Slatkin, in 1981. ["Levine puts passion in CSO's 'Onegin'," by John Von Rhein; review in the "Chicago Tribune", July 1981 (includes a review of the Grant Park performance of "The Kingdom")] Kraus went on to sing with other American orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, ["H.M.S. Pinafore" given smooth sailing," by Donald Rosenberg; review in "The Plain Dealer", Aug. 3, 1993] Dallas Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, [ [http://www2.jsonline.com/letsgo/daily/0907delfs.stm "Boris Godunov" in 1997] ] and many others, working with conductors Erich Leinsdorf, Eduardo Mata, Bruno Bartoletti, ["'Bartered Bride' lacks the elements," by John Von Rhein; review in the "Chicago Tribune", Oct. 12, 1992, p. 14] Zdenek Macal, [ [http://www.concentric.net/~Onk145/Lelio.htm Review in the "Chicago Tribune", dated August 7, 1990] ] Andrew Davis, ["Singers, staging enhance Lyric's 'Figaro'," by Joseph Cunniff; review in the "Hyde Park Herald", Oct. 23, 1991] James Conlon, [ [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-9-17/45983.html "Epoch Times" review: "La Traviata" – World Renowned Cast"] ] David Zinman, ["Opera Alfresco," by Ted Shen; review of "La Traviata" in "The Reader" Aug. 14, 1982] Claudio Abbado, James Levine, ["Kinetic force, opera stars make oratorio entertaining at Ravinia," by John Von Rhein: review in the "Chicago Tribune", July 10, 1978] Lukas Foss, ["Foss, MSO deliver spirit of Requiem," by Tom Strini; review in the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel", Jan.20, 1996] Mark Elder, Anton Coppola, ["Coppola keeps Verdi straight, but the artistry does sink in," by Clarke Bustard'; review in the "Richmond Times-Dispatch", March 17, 1997 p. E5] Gisele Ben-Dor, ["'Verdi Requiem' given powerful performances by SB Symphony," by Kenneth E. Bartlett; review in the "Valley Voice", May 24, 1995] and Marin Alsop. ["CSO Chorus sines as it pays homage to Mozart," by Marc Shulgold; review in the "Rocky Mountain News", March 16, 1996] He has been a soloist at the Handel Week Festival in Oak Park, Illinois several times, [ [http://www.handelweek.com/pastyears.html Handel Week Festival listing of soloists] ] at Mahlerfest in Boulder, Colorado (2001), [ [http://www.mahlerfest.org/mfXIV/welcome.htm Information from the Mahlerfest website] ] and sang Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in 1996 with New Oratorio Singers. [ [http://chicagomastersingers.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=14&Itemid=42 Note on the "Elijah" performance] ]

Kraus joined the roster of the Lyric Opera of Chicago for the 1990 season and has remained with the company for many seasons. His roles with the company include Jose Castro in "La fanciulla del West" (1991), Antonio in "The Marriage of Figaro" (1992), Micah in "The Bartered Bride" (1993), Alcindoro in "La bohème" (1993), the Sacristan in "Tosca" (1994), Elder MacLean in "Susannah" (1994), [Skrebneski, Victor. "Bravi: Lyric Opera of Chicago" Abbeville Publishing Group, New York (1994) ISBN 1-55859-711-9. Gives dates of performances by Kraus from 1991 to 1994.] various supporting roles in "Candide" (1994), [ [http://www.sondheimguide.com/Candide/writings08.html review of "Candide" in "Opera News"] ] Amantio di Nicolao in "Gianni Schicchi" (1996), Southern Senator in "Amistad" (1997; world premiere, by composer Anthony Davies), Helmsman in "Tristan und Isolde" (1999), [ [http://www.lyricopera.org/about/cast1990.asp Information from Lyric Opera website re: 1990-99 seasons] ] Meyer Wolfshiem in "The Great Gatsby" (2000), the Mayor in "Jenůfa" (2000), Abe Kaplan in "Street Scene" (2001), [ [http://www.oakparkjournal.com/TheaterReviews/Lyric-Opera-Street-Scenes2001.html review of "Street Scene"] ] Ratcliffe in "Billy Budd" (2002), Baron Douphol in "La Traviata" (2003), [ [http://www.lyricopera.org/about/cast2000.asp Information from Lyric Opera website re: 2000-04 seasons] ] Benoit/Antonio in "The Marriage of Figaro" (2003), [ [http://www.ffaire.com/musicplanner/midwest/lyric.html Fanfaire website listing for "Marriage of Figaro"] ] and Harashta in "The Cunning Little Vixen" (2004). [ [http://www.rader-shieber.com/press.htm Reviews of "The Cunning Little Vixen"] ] He is on the company's roster for the 2007-08 season, [ [http://www.lyricopera.org/about/starsOfTheSeason.asp Lyric Opera of Chicago 2007-08 roster] ] again playing Baron Douphol in "La Traviata". [ [http://www.lyricopera.org/img/news/2007_08_Season.pdf From the Lyric Opera website] ]

In 1995, he sang the title role in Verdi's "Rigoletto" with Minnesota Opera, and in 1994 sang the Vicar in "Albert Herring" with Cleveland Opera. ["Britten's "Albert Herring' is the operatic catch of the day," by Donald Rosenberg; review in "The Plain Dealer", April 10, 1994] He also sang the Sacristan in "Tosca" with that company in 2002 [ [http://www.ffaire.com/musicplanner/midwest/cleveopera.html Information from the FanFaire website listing for "Tosca"] ] Recently he joined the roster of the Los Angeles Opera in 2006 singing Baron Duphol in "La Traviata" in a cast that included Renee Fleming. [See [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-9-17/45983.html this review of "La Traviata" in Epoch Times.com] . See also [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931525.html?categoryid=34&cs=1 this review of the production in Variety.] ] The production was broadcast by radio station WFMT in Los Angeles. [ [http://www.wfmt.com/main.taf?p=1,1,41,44 WFMT's website] ] In February 2007, he portrayed the composer "Antonio Salieri" in a concert production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s "Mozart and Salieri". [ [http://www.fortwaynephilharmonic.com/results.asp?searchtype=date&datefrom=10/1/2006 Announcement of the concert] ]

Light Opera Works

Kraus, after having been involved with the Northwestern University Gilbert and Sullivan Guild as director, co-founded Light Opera Works in 1980, [ [http://www.footlights.com/ArchiveArticle-Details.cfm?ID=223 Article noting milestones in Chicago theatre] ] one of only a few professional companies devoted to the operetta genre in the United States. He served as Artistic Director for 19 seasons directing 38 mainstage productions. Under his artistic direction the company produced Chicago premieres and revivals of "Orpheus in the Underworld" (1881), "The Beautiful Galatea" (1982), "Naughty Marietta" (1983), "Utopia, Limited" (1984) , "The Gypsy Baron" (1985), "The Grand Duke" (1992), "The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein" (1986), [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36D211F4612BB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article on "Grand Duchess" (not free)] ] "Die Fledermaus" (1986, 1995), [ [http://www.elizabethlucas.com/PDFs/LUCAS_RESUME.pdf Assistant director's resume mentions that Kraus directed this production] ] "The Chocolate Soldier" (1987), [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36D8282BC2BD6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article on "The Chocolate Soldier" (not free)] ] "Wiener Blut" (1989), "Babes in Toyland" (1993), [ [http://jaylusteck.com/_wsn/page3.html Lists "Babes in Toyland" and "Iolanthe" directed by Kraus] ] "La vie parisienne" (1984), "The Golden Apple" (1995), "The Czardas Princess" (1990) and Emmerich Kalman's little-known "The Duchess of Chicago" (1998). [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB423B607851984&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article on "The Duchess of Chicago" (not free)] ] While Kraus was artistic director, the company also produced stage works of Kurt Weill, including "Lady in the Dark" (1989), "Knickerbocker Holiday (1992)", and "One Touch of Venus (1997)", some of which had been little seen by to modern audiences. He also produced all 13 extant Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas during his tenure with company.

Director, translator and educator

Kraus served as resident stage director for the Pamiro Opera in Green Bay, Wisconsin from 1988 to 1996, directing productions of "L'Italiana in Algeri" (1988), ["Pamiro delights full house," review of "L'Italiana in Algeri" by Terence O'Grady in the "Green Bay Press-Gazette", Sept. 24, 1988] "The Merry Widow" (1989), ["Merry Widow" is a Pamiro Pleaser," review of "The Merry Widow" by Terence O'Grady in the "Green Bay Press-Gazette" Sept. 18, 1989] "The Daughter of the Regiment" (1990), ["'Daughter" delights eye and ear," review by Michael Bent in the "Appleton Post-Crescent" Sept. 1990] "Die Fledermaus" (1991), ["Solid performances let audience soar with 'The Bat'," review by Terence O'Grady in the "Green Bay Press-Gazette", Sept. 16, 1991] "The Magic Flute" (1992), ["'The Magic Flute' performs magic throughout opera," review by Terence O'Grady in the "Green Bay Press-Gazette", Sept. 1992] "La Traviata" (1993), ["Pamiro brings arias to the area", review of "La Traviata" by Michael Bent in the "Appleton Post-Crescent", Sept. 14, 1993 p. D-5] "Madama Butterfly" (1994), ["Pamiro Opera Growing in Stature", review of "Madama Butterfly" by Erik Eriksson in the "Door County Advocate", Sept. 15, 1994 Section 1 p. 14] "Rigoletto" (1995), ["Pamiro, baritone soar in updated 'Rigoletto'," review by Terence O'Grady in the "Green Bay Press-Gazette", Oct. 1, 1995 p. B-5] and the world premiere of Gordon Parmentier's "The Lost Dauphin" (2000), which was videotaped by Wisconsin Public Television for broadcast. ["'Lost Dauphin' an extraordinary find," review by Erik Eriksson in the "Green Bay News-Chronicle" May 26, 2000, Variety Section p. 26 (note: this review mentions that the opera was recorded for both public radio and public television.)]

For the Chicago Cultural Center, he directed Poulenc's "The Breasts of Tiresias" in 2000 and Mozart's "The Impresario" in 2001 [ [http://www.napervillechorus.org/bios/areyzaga.html Performer resume mentions that Kraus directed the production] ] for which he prepared the English translation. At the Lyric Opera Cleveland, he directed "Patience", by Gilbert and Sullivan, in 2002, [ [http://www.clevescene.com/2002-07-17/culture/victorian-virtue/ Review of "Patience"] ] and "The Mikado" in 2004, in his 1986 Elizabethan concept. [ [http://www.mvdaily.com/articles/2004/07/mikado1.htm Review of this concept production of "The Mikado"] ]

Kraus has prepared several English singing translations of operas and operettas in collaboration with lyricist Gregory Opelka. These include Oscar Straus' "The Chocolate Soldier" [ [http://www.buddybuddy.com/pc-s-05.html Review of North Star Opera's "The Chocolate Soldier" with Kraus' libretto] ] and "A Waltz Dream" ["A Waltz Dream" reviewed by Kathleen Tobin in "The Beverly Review", July 15, 1992] and Kalman's "The Duchess of Chicago". [ [http://www.concertoperetta.com/pastprod.html Information about a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania production of "Duchess" in 2007] ] Other translations include "La Serva Padrona", "Orpheus in the Underworld", "Gianni Schicchi", "Suor Angelica", "The Coronation of Poppea" and "The Land of Smiles".

From 1982 to 1987, Kraus served as the Director of the De Paul University Opera Theater in Chicago. [ [http://sr.depaul.edu/pdf/bulletin/1984-1985/1984-1985_UGRD_Bulletin_LAS.pdf Bulletin, p. 269] ] He then taught applied voice at De Paul from 1993 to 1999. [ [http://www.dmlsoftware.com/loperapiccola/prog-9.htm Performer resume mentions Kraus teaching voice at DePaul] ] From 1999-2002 Kraus served as the Director of Opera at Roosevelt University in Chicago. [ [http://www.roosevelt.edu/catalog01/faculty-and-administration.pdf p. 320 Faculty, Administration and Board of Trustees] ] Kraus has been a Lecturer at Northwestern University School of music in the opera program since 2005. [ [http://www.music.northwestern.edu/facultyprofiles/k.html Faculty profiles] ]

References

*"International Who's Who in Music and Musicians Directory, 1990-1991", Twelfth Edition, edited by David M. Cummings and Dennis K. McIntire; p. 475. ISBN 0948875208

External links

* [http://www.philipkraus.com/ Official Philip Kraus Website]
* [http://www.lightoperaworks.info/ Light Opera Works: A Historical Retrospective 1981-1999]
* [http://www.chicagoconcertartists.com/ Chicago Concert Artists Website]
* [http://www.losangelesopera.com/artist/kraus.philip.htm Profile from Los Angeles Opera]