Jonas Kaufmann: tenor
Mahler Chamber Orchestra & Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Claudio Abbado
Beethoven: Gott! Welch Dunkel hier! (from Fidelio) Mozart: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön (from Die Zauberflöte) / Die Weisheitslehre….. führt mich der Ton zu ihr from Die Zauberflöte Schubert: Was quälst du mich… In tiefbewegter Brust from Fierrabras / Schon, wenn es beginnt zu tragen….und mein Herze will ihm nach from Alfonso und Estrella Wagner: In fernem Land (from Lohengrin) / Mein lieber Schwan (from Lohengrin) / Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond (from Die Walküre) / Amfortas, die Wunde! (from Parsifal) / Nur eine Waffe taugt (from Parsifal)
2010 Gramophone Awards Shortlist: Recital
Wholenote Discoveries - November 2009
Jonas Kaufmann is no newcomer to the opera world nor to recordings, both audio and video. He has about 20 discs on the market, from Mozart, Beethoven, Richard Strauss, and more. However none of these struck the chord as this new disc has. Admittedly he shines in Madama Butterfly and in Der Rosenkavalier and various collections with other artists, but I haven’t heard them all and there may be the artistry equal to this new disc. I was taken completely taken by surprise by the timbre and texture of the gentle melancholy that he conveys, without a hint of bathos, in the opening lines of both In fernam land and, more particularly, Mein lieber Schwann! This entire collection is a superb showcase for Kaufmann’s artistry revealed in the arias from Lohengrin; as Tamino from The Magic Flute; arias from Schubert’s Fierrabras and Alfonso und Estrella; from Fidelio, Gott! Welch Dunkel heir!; Wintersturme; and finally two from Parsifal, Amfortas! – Die Wunde and Nur eine Waffe taugt. The well chosen sequence of arias on this CD showcase a beautiful voice with an unusual palette of colours, textures and dynamic range whose vocal canvas is enhanced by fine musicianship and intellect. He inhabits the roles and communicates them effortlessly, supported majestically by Claudio Abbado. The recording itself is of demonstration quality, naturally balanced, very clean and well-focused. Kaufmann’s qualities and discernable originality make it difficult to pigeonhole him as a heldentenor or a similar generalisation. He emerges as in a class of his own. Bruce Surtees
Gramophone Editor's Choice - November 2009
The great opera conductor Claudio Abbado directs the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Arnold Schoenberg Chor in his first ever vocal recital recording for Decca, and his first Decca recording for almost 40 years. Tenor Jonas Kaufmann takes on a journey through the German Operatic repertoire, beginning with such standards as Mozart's Magic Flute, and Beethoven's Fidelio, before branching into unknown Schubert opera, and coming full circle with Wagner. Kaufmann's dark tenor voice identifies wholely the music of his heritage. This disc is beautifully sung and Abbado keeps the orchestra in a perfect supprt role for Kaufmann to shine. The Mozart tracks are wonderful as are the rarer Schbert arias, but what stands out for me is 'Wintersturme' from Wagner's Die Walkure. Not only do we get to experience romantic Wagner, but romantic Wagner exquisitely sung. This is a vocal CD of the highest quality and performance!
Price: $15.98