On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo. 

Peter G. Davis in New York:

Jonas Kaufmann not only has the look and easy stage bearing of a rock star, but he also has a flexibility seldom heard in German tenors—he sings Parsifal and Florestan with distinction, as well as lyrical roles like Alfredo. If his voice lacks the ringing lift up top that one ideally likes in a Verdi tenor, the overall tone is smoothly burnished, beautifully focused on the notes, and always disarmingly musical.

Photo: Ken Howard

Comments