Interview with the German tenor JONAS KAUFMANN, who sang the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème of Puccini and who impressed me very much.

 

 

 

  After the performance of La Bohème, I had a conversation with one of the greatest tenors nowadays and the next 10 years : Jonas Kaufmann.

He was born in Münich in 1969. His family enjoyed music, not especially the opera, but it dealed a heavy blow to his career. When he was 5 years old, he went to the opera with his parents. Sitting on the first row,  he followed very attentively the performance of Madama Butterfly.

At his home town Munich, he went to the music high-school and graduated in 1994 as opera and concert singer !

During his studies, he not only participated to the performances of the students, but sang also small roles at the Bayerischer Staatsoper and the Theater am Gartnerplatz.  

Regensburg invited him to sing the role of Caramello in the operetta “A night in Venice”. He sang Caramello for about 36 times. 

He signed his first contract at the Stadtheater of Saarbrucken for the period 1994-1996. From now on, other theatres called upon him and offered him various roles. He sang Jaquino (Fidelio) in Stuttgart and at the Scala.

In Salzburg, in 1999, he débuted as Dokter Faust (Busoni) and 4 years later, in Die Entfürung aus dem Serail (Mozart).

In 2001, he débuted in Zurich where he is a regular guest nowadays. He sang Tamino, Belmonte, Tito and Idomeneo and participated to the productions of Nina and Fierrabas.

 

On these pictures, you can see how relaxed this tenor was during the interview. Very friendly, he answered all my questions related to his career.

 

 

 

      I wanted to know what roles he likes to sing and I he reply very nicely : “Every time I get on the scene, I sing and act as it is my favourite role ! I may not get into a grove and I must always do better !

….. I always put a certain sequence in the choice of the roles. For example, now, I’m able to sing the emperor in Die Frau ohne Schatten but, for sure, I will also sing this role for another 10 years. So, why do I have to accept it now ? I prefer to wait. As new roles, I have planned in Vienna, Des Grieux in the opera Manon and Werther. Next year, I will also come to Munich for my first Lohengrin.

This season, I sing Carmen in Zürich and Tosca at the Covent Garden.

 

My further plans for 2008-2009 are :

-          Tosca in Zürich

-          Fidelio in Paris

-          Manon in Chicago

-          Tosca in Vienna

-          And later : Adriana Lecouvreur in London, probably with Angela Gheorghiu.

       Jonas Kaufmann as Alfredo                  In his rare spare moments a natural and

      in the Met                                                 relaxed Jonas Kaufmann

 

 

 

      As other singers, Jonas refused some roles such as Otello and Tristan. ADAGIO with the voice !!!!

I admire Placido Domingo who is singing so much and is very temperamental !

I’m very popular in America, but prefer to stay in Europe with my family. I know from experience that many American citizens are travelling to Salzburg and Edinburgh to see me and to hear me. They can talk about me when they returned to America.

“….. Before I accept a new role, I discuss this with my manager. As he is a composer and a conductor he is an expert in this matter. But, my best adviser is my wife who is also an opera singer.”

 

….. Jonas, what do you think about Maria Callas ? …. “She is a very fascinating personality with a wonderful voice !!!!”

 

Before we left, we agreed to meet in Vienna for Manon with Anna Netrebko and in Zürich for La Traviata. Thomas Hampson will sing the role of Father Germont.

 

Just a few words to Jonas : …. “I admire you for your beautiful tenor-voice with its beautiful gradations and superb mezza-voces. I also admire your talent of acting and the way you dominate the scene !  You are still very young and have to sing for many years to make people happy ! I WISH YOU A LOT OF SUCCESS !

A few pictures : on the left, Jonas Kaufmann at the Covent Garden as Don José. The Italian magazine l’Opera wrote : this Carmen is really brilliant under the leadership of Antonio Papano, but the star was Jonas Kaufmann as Don José !

On the right side after the performance of Faust in Zürich where he sang with Elena Mosuc and Carlo Colombara.