Known professionally as Alexander Kravets, Alexander Graf Kravets has become a prominent interpreter of character-tenor roles, bringing sharply etched theatrical detail and vocal agility to some of the most challenging parts in twentieth-century and contemporary opera. His work spans leading opera houses throughout Europe and the United States, where he is noted for his imagination, precision, and bold dramatic instinct.
His artistic formation included work with Alexander Graf Stackelberg, a connection that shaped his early development and supported his transition into the demanding Spieltenor repertoire.
Kravets’s international engagements reflect a sustained presence on major stages. He has appeared widely in Shostakovich’s The Nose, performing the title role at the Aix-en-Provence Festival and Opéra de Lyon, and portraying the Policeman in productions at Staatsoper Berlin, Opéra de Lausanne, Dutch National Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
He earned particular praise for his portrayal of the “Drunken Man” in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, a role he has performed at La Scala, Teatro Real Madrid, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Dutch National Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, and Opéra National de Paris.
His recent and upcoming work includes his Royal Opera House, Covent Garden debut as the Policeman in Barrie Kosky’s new staging of The Nose; Prince Nilski in The Gambler at Opéra de Monte-Carlo; Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte for Teatro Massimo in Palermo; and the Astrologer in The Golden Cockerel for La Monnaie and Teatro Real.
Other notable appearances include Sharikov in the world premiere of The Dog’s Heart and the Schoolmaster in The Cunning Little Vixen at Dutch National Opera; Kedrill in From the House of the Dead at Teatro Real; recurring performances of Monostatos in Venice and Geneva; Sellem in The Rake’s Progress at Deutsche Oper am Rhein; and 2. Offizier in Die Soldaten at the Komische Oper Berlin.
He maintains a long artistic association with Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, performing roles such as Le Duc in The Miserly Knight, Rustighello in Lucrezia Borgia, Trabuco in La Forza del Destino, Piet in Le Grand Macabre, and Gastone in La Traviata. At the Opéra National de Paris he has appeared as Graf Albert in Die tote Stadt and as Ser Toldo in Francesca da Rimini. Further Paris engagements include Mozart in Mozart and Salieri at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and roles in Re Orso at the Opéra Comique.
Additional performances have taken him to the Bayerische Staatsoper, Oper der Stadt Bonn, Royal Opera House Wallonie, Vlaamse Opera, Opéra de Toulon, Opéra Angers/Nantes, and Teatro Comunale Bologna.
Kravets has earned international critical recognition for shaping complex character roles with precision and theatrical flair. His interpretation of the title role in The Nose and the “Drunken Man” in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk established him as a leading figure in modern Russian repertoire, while his continued presence in premieres and major revivals underscores his versatility and enduring artistic demand.
