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Oman Daily Observer, 17th, September 2015 |
Written by Oman Observer |
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Konzert, Royal Opera House Muscat, 16. September 2015 |
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Kauffman dominates at ROHM season opener
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Jonas Kauffmann’s clear and lucid voice attracts attention with it’s
clarity, power and grace. He has the additional advantage of a powerful
stage presence, full of grace, charm and a friendly disposition
Maurice Gent –
Anyone who attended the opening of the Royal Opera
House new season is unlikely to forget it. The show was totally dominated by
the voice of Jonas Kauffman, a man with a rich, melodious voice — extremely
powerful with an almost supernatural range of tone and expression. He does
not ape any other style. His technique is unique and there was no need to
explain why he had been given the signal honour of leading the first
performance of the season under a new management team.
Jonas
Kauffmann, apart from being blessed by a clear and lucid voice, which
penetrates the airwaves and immediately attracts attention with it’s
clarity, power and grace, has the additional advantage of a powerful stage
presence, full of grace, charm and a friendly disposition. I heard no
shuffling or personal chatter. By his stance and bearing he commanded both
attention and respect.
There was an additional powerful factor — the
Czech National Symphony Orchestra, which accustomed to supporting Jonas
Kauffman, supported the whole performance with great professional skill. It
was a highly memorable occasion as the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) began
to explore another chapter in it’s history.
The performance was
watched by a full house and the reception was powerful and joyous. The
audience greeted a performance of sophistication and charm. The hall was
full of regular opera goers, all eager to see how the new regime at ROHM
would work out, They were a contented crowd noting that the ROHM was keeping
up it’s high international standards. The performance was appreciated both
for its imagination and vigour.
The performance was described by one
writer as controlled ecstasy, which is a very good description. Singing in
the world’s most prestigious houses including the Metropolitan Opera, La
Scala, and Covent Garden, Kaufmann is in great demand globally. Recently he
made his debut at the ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert televised live from
London’s famous Royal Albert Hall.
Remarks by Neil Fisher of The
Times said, “When Kaufmann launches into his opening aria it’s as though the
sun has come out: with his convincingly heroic presence, and the sheer
beauty of his singing, he simply brings the house down.” Others have noted
that Kaufmann has some qualities from each of the Three Tenors (Luciano
Pavarotti, José Carreras and Placido Domingo).
In a truly wonderful
programme of famous arias, interspersed with beautiful orchestral preludes
and overtures, Kaufmann sang selections from Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, and
Massenet, among others.
Music lovers were treated to arias such as
the hauntingly beautiful ‘Recondita armonia’ (Strange and lovely harmony)
from Puccini’s Tosca, and the intensely passionate, lyrical ‘La fleur que to
m’avais jetee’ (The flower you threw to me) from Bizet’s Carmen. The concert
ended with what is undoubtedly opera’s best loved tenor aria — ‘Nessun
Dorma’ (None shall Sleep) from Puccini’s Turandot ROHM’s Acting
Director-General and Artistic, Umberto Fanni states: “In 2015-2016 Muscat
will again stand among leading institutions as a world capital for the
performing arts. As a new institution, the ROHM can be proud of its record
in bringing the world to Oman, as we deepen intra-cultural exchange and
understanding through the performing arts, with the aim of contributing
to world peace and harmony.
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