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" /]

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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