Otago Daily Times, 26 Oct 2013

By Geoff Adams

"The Best of Jonas Kaufmann"

Kaufmann, who arrived in the mid-1990s and has become acknowledged as a modern master of Wagnerian interpretation, first made his top-rank reputation playing a range of French and German operatic heroes. This compilation of 20 tracks culled from 2002 to 2010 demonstrates his remarkable voice, following his progress from Verdi and Puccini to Strauss and Wagner. Like Placido Domingo he sings with stylish artistry in Italian, German and French; and even one in English here in ''I revel in hope and joy again'' from Von Weber's Oberon. He shows a range of characterisation in fine solos and a Puccini duet with soprano Renee Fleming. Most of them are standards but Licinio Refice's Ombra di nube displays a rare jewel. Highlight: ''Io l'ho perduta'' shows the despair of Verdi's Don Carlo.