29 December 2007

Kaufknabe

A number of the cher public have asked for more photos of hunkalicious Jonas Kaufmann, with a several of you specifially requesting a image without the tenor's accustomed facial stubble. Well, one of La Cieca's dear readers has obliged by sending a snapshot of Kaufmann before he stopped shaving, or possibly before he even started shaving.

The reader recalls performing with Der Junge Jonas circa 1997 when he "still sang Rossini and The Student Prince." A particularly vivid memory is of "Jonas in biker spandex for Proben in Heidelberg!" (The image of Mr. Kauffman's dinner companion has been obscured for reasons of privacy.)

And now here's some contemporary video of the unstubbled Kaufmann in action, singing The Student Prince.

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POSTED at 11:04 PM 24 Comments

27 December 2007

Isn't it romantic?

Jummy Jonas Kaufmann records his recital CD Romantic Arias, due for release in March.

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POSTED at 3:33 PM 51 Comments

19 October 2007

"Bizarre and nondescript characters corralled from every stratum of society"

La Cieca thanks the visiting Enzo Bordello for pointing out to her some recent updates to the indispensable Met Futures Page so painstakingly maintained by Bradley Wilber. Most of it sound plausible enough, but every now and then a piece of casting leaves La Cieca so stunned she hardly manage to quote a Waldo Lydecker quip. Such is the case with a projected 2009 revival of Adriana Lecouvreur with Maria Guleghina and Jonas Kaufmann.

That show at least seems possible actually to transpire, unlike the new Carmen in 2010. The announced team for the Bizet, which includes Matthew Bourne, Richard Eyre, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Barbara Fritolli and James Levine, surely adds up to ten pounds of diva in a five pound bag!

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POSTED at 11:59 AM 12 Comments

16 February 2006

Ghay for Gheorghiu

According to Gay City News, our editor JJ loved Angela Gheorghiu's Violetta, and he was more than a little enthused about Herr Jonas Kaufmann.

Le public have spoken, and they want their video to stream quickly and reliably. So save this bookmark and visit frequently: it's the parterre box page at Google Video. Here's a sample of the new content:

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POSTED at 10:29 PM 84 Comments Links to this post

08 February 2006

Starry night

Alas, La Cieca can't comment regarding onstage goings on at last night's Traviata at the Met (her evil twin JJ is writing about the event for Gay City News), but things were pretty gala in the auditorium as well. Representing the Blogosphere was one of the Wellsungs, Jonathan Ferrantelli, a deux with the always charming Greg Freed. Down on orchestra level, La Cieca noted Anna Netrebko deep in conversation with scribe Matthew Gurewitsch. (La Netrebko, it is rumored, will be singing her own Violetta in New York a few seasons hence, though not, perhaps, in the Franco Zeffirelli staging she saw last night. On dit that Peter Gelb plans to import the Willy Decker production from Salzburg.) Aprile Millo, swathed in mink, held court at the base of the pole that bears her name. Noted in her orbit were ten-percenter Neil Funkhouser, NYCO tenor Andrew Drost and Premiere Opera's Ed Rosen. And everywhere La Cieca looked, boys, boys, boys, on a cuteness level to rival that of a David Daniels audience. Were they there for Angela Gheorghiu in the title role, or, could scrummy tenor Jonas Kaufmann (left) have something to do with it?

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POSTED at 12:42 PM 8 Comments Links to this post

01 February 2006

Glamour puss

La Cieca's spy L'incredibile, who has only moments ago slunk home from the Met's Traviata dress rehearsal, predicts a triumph for Angela Gheorghiu as Violetta. "The most beautiful soprano to sing the role here since Anna Moffo," L'incredibile exults, though he adds reservations about the carrying power of Gheorgiu's "veiled" voice and the "frequent disagreements" about tempo between the diva and maestro Marco Armiliato.

New attire for Ms. Gheorghiu includes a flowing "oriental" robe in a deep rose silk for the first act ("think Adriana's first entrance," L'inc explains) which the soprano strips off to perform "Sempre libera" in corset and petticoat. (Apparently this was The Zef's original concept, but for whatever reason it was ditched when this production was introduced back in 1998.)

The spy, though closely questioned, would not commit to an opinion regarding tenor Jonas Kaufmann, since he marked "the entire opera." Kaufmann does, however, appear to be planning on interpolating high C's into the first act finale and at the end of his cabaletta. Anthony Michaels-Moore (Germont) boasts "the loudest voice in the cast, plus he sings directly out into the house the whole time." Incredibile, ma vero! Oh, La Cieca can hardly wait! (In the meantime, she and you can bone up on Gheorghiu 101 in this archive.)

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POSTED at 2:58 PM 87 Comments Links to this post