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The Australian, March 16, 2013 |
Mark Coughlan |
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Wagner (Jonas Kaufmann) |
RATING: 5 stars |
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WITH
this outstanding album, Jonas Kaufmann could well be staking a claim to be
the greatest living Wagnerian tenor.
In his selection of arias from
Die Walkure, Siegfried, Rienzi, Tannhauser, Meistersinger and Lohengrin, he
tackles some of the most challenging vocal works and dispatches them with an
astonishing degree of vocal and musical command.
Naturally, the
climaxes demand huge power and the ability to cut through blaring orchestral
tuttis, but there are also moments of great delicacy, introspection and
intimacy requiring absolute control of breath and tone colour. In every
challenge Kaufmann's mastery is complete.
The competitive aspect of
singing this repertoire is not lost on him. In the program notes he speaks
of Lauritz Melchior's legendary top notes in Siegmund's Sword Monologue and
in the recording gives a spectacular 10-second burst of full-voiced power on
both of these anguished cries.
Even as he finally winds down the
climactic moment, we are left with the feeling he could have gone on
forever; there is never a hint of strain or the sense that Kaufmann
approaches his limits anywhere in this album.
For one who can sing
with such shattering intensity, his finesse in passages of gentle lyricism
is even more telling. In the Wesendonck Lieder (written for female voice)
Kaufmann creates delicate, soft colours and an impeccable long line, leaving
us feeling he can, in fact, do anything with his remarkable voice.
Donald Runnicles and the Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin often excellent
support throughout. Highly recommended.
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