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The Buffalo News, July 8, 2014 |
By Mary Kunz Goldman |
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Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch, ‘Winterreise’ |
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Tenor
Jonas Kaufmann, while an adventurous singer, brings a lot of low-key
subtlety to this “Winterreise.” He is wise in not joining the legions of
singers who always seem out to reinvent the wheel. Instead, though his
delivery is free and he sometimes surprises you, he seems confident that his
own lyricism and grace can carry the day, and they do.
Helmut
Deutsch, a veteran accompanist, mirrors his sensibilities. His cool allows
you to marvel at the genius of the accompaniments. Schubert, though no
virtuoso pianist, really knew how to use the instrument.
Kaufmann and
Deutsch are used to performing together this bleak but beautiful cycle. The
result is a kind of eerie calm over the first song, with its magical shift
to the major key, and the haunting final song about the hurdy-gurdy man in
the snow. In the many more dramatic songs in between, they show fine control
and unity of purpose. This is another reason to see Kaufmann as one of the
most exciting singers around.
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