super mario
Member of the cher public Max writes:
Don’t know if you’ve gotten reports on this yet, but Jonas Kaufmann‘s Cavaradossi at the Royal Opera (May 23) was singing like I haven’t heard since young Domingo (only Domingo never had that kind of ease on top). You could feel the waves of sound from his “Vittoria” but it was also so musical, so beautifully phrased with such beautiful clarity of
diction and awesome command of dynamics.He’s German but looks like a Roman god.
Gavanelli was a disgusting Scarpia (but effective in that way), Martina Serafin a surpisingly fiery and full-voiced Tosca and Pappano and the ROH orchestra were splendid.
Here’s a clip of Kaufmann singing “E lucevan le stelle” for German television earlier this month.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/fqaZFcZ7poI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
I don’t think that he’s darkening his sound artificially. Why would any tenor want to sound quite so baritonal?
Logical Tenor (58) and operanuts (50) you are sooo right – I’m with you guys! You could import the Saint of Singing directly from Paradise and put him in here and he would be diced, sliced, stripped, and insulted like there’s no tomorrow.
Queens are not known for not having strong opinions where the arts are concerned – and in here we are clearly the super queens from hell. I’m just relieved that neither my Mother nor my Sister sings… because I’d hate to see them receiving the “accolades” in here, that have been so generously bestowed on female singers in the past. (whores, sluts etc).
Regardless, this “bitch box” is still one of the most fascinating entertainments around and perhaps the real stars are not the artists but the contributors?
Kashania, I could see the motivation for darkening. There’s a real fascination and draw to the phenomenon of a dark-colored sound working in a high tessitura. I think this was a part of Caruso’s appeal and it applies to Vickers and Domingo (no, I’m not saying Kaufmann has pretentions to being Caruso, Vickers or Domingo). Anyway, I don’t think it’s a fake thing with Kaufmann.
I think you also find singers darkening their sound when they’re concerned about negotiating their careers upon reaching a “certain age” and not wanting to be tied to roles that depend on a youthful appearance.
I disagree about his voice being to dark. On the contrary, I think the opening of this aria, especially, is way too speech-like and spread…too bright. Too pop in quality. And the first high phrase has two little cracks in it! This is because he isn’t supporting his voice, but instead is crooning. I know this isn’t the 1950′s, when tenors sang with balls, and perhaps even too much testosterone…but this cute-ish approach flies in the face of all the good reditions I know.
He finally starts supporting the tone about half way through at “svanni per sempre..” and starts to sound right in this aria. You would never have heard Corelli, Tucker or any other important tenor wait halfway through this aria before he starts supporting his voice! Kaufmann…pretty boy opera singer?..the jury is still out, I think. Yes…pretty…but flirting with the music and not supporting will only get you into vocal trouble eventually…and those who have heard him live and in performance are already complaining. It is a great voice when he gets serious about actually singing…I hope he will realize that, in the end, a beautifully handled voice will outlast boyish good looks…if you sing correctly. Placido Domingo, Alfredo Krauss, and many others were shining examples of this.
That delicious man with the delicious voice.