Jean Kraft | |
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Born | Jean Marie Kraft January 9, 1927 Menasha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | July 15, 2021 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 94)
Occupation | Operatic mezzo-soprano |
Years active | 1960–1990 |
Organizations | |
Spouse | Richard Elias |
Jean Kraft (January 9, 1927 – July 15, 2021) was an American operatic mezzo-soprano. She began her career singing with the New York City Opera (NYCO) during the early 1960s, after which she embarked on a partnership with The Santa Fe Opera from 1965 through 1987. In 1970 she joined the roster of singers at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where she remained a fixture until 1989. She also performed as a guest of many other opera companies throughout the United States. In 2005 Opera News called her "a gifted mezzo and observant, imaginative actress who lent distinction to a wide range of character roles. By the end of her Met tenure, she had sung nearly 800 performances and become a solid audience favorite."[1]