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Romantic Arias
Jonas Kaufmann
Composers: Carl Maria von Weber, Charles Gounod, Friedrich von Flotow, Georges Bizet, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Hector Berlioz, Jules Massenet, Richard Wagner
Conductors: Marco Armiliato
Orchestras: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Performers: Jana Sibera, Jonas Kaufmann, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Label: Decca
Release Date: 3/11/2008
UPC: 028947599661
Album review: Tenor Jonas Kaufmann has resisted the pressure of opera companies and fans to settle on a single repertoire and has insisted on spanning the nationalities and styles of opera from the Classical and Romantic periods, ranging from Mozart to Wagner and Puccini. This CD is a demonstration of the wisdom of his decision not to let himself be restrained by the expectations of others, and to venture into whatever roles interest him and suit his voice. Kaufmann has a large, rich voice, and he handles it with the variety required by this diverse repertoire. He is absolutely technically secure, and that allows him to make some daring (and effective) interpretive choices. He occasionally allows himself a roughened texture, almost a grittiness, that you'd never hear in Pavarotti or Domingo, but which is entirely appropriate for the character. After all, these are mostly characters (Rodolfo, Cavaradossi, Don José, Werther) who've been tossed around pretty roughly by life, and it's reasonable that they should show evidence of their history in their singing. This is especially effective and moving at the beginning of "Che gelida manina," where the roughness that Kaufmann allows into his tender declaration of love, even at the very beginning of the story, speaks worlds about his background and character. He has plenty of vocal heft for a heroic Preisleid from Der Meistersinger, and the velvety tenderness for the Massenet excerpts. An added attraction of this album is the inclusion of arias from lesser-known operas, such as Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust and Flotow's Martha. The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Marco Armiliato, provides a solid, but not particularly distinguished accompaniment. Decca's sound is fresh and clean, with a good sense of presence. The collection should be of strong interest to fans of bel canto, particularly those on the lookout for rising stars.
Track details:
1 Che gelida manina (Che gelida manina)
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Length: 5:06
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
2 La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (La fleur que tu m'avais jetée)
Composer: Georges Bizet
Length: 4:20
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
3 Ach! so fromm (Ach! so fromm)
Composer: Friedrich von Flotow
Length: 3:22
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
4 E lucevan le stelle (E lucevan le stelle)
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Length: 3:21
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
5 Io l'ho perduta!... Io la vidi, e il suo sorriso (Io l'ho perduta!... Io la vidi, e il suo sorriso)
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Length: 3:41
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
6 Nein, länger trag' ich nicht die Qualen... Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen (Nein, länger trag' ich nicht die Qualen... Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen)
Composer: Carl Maria von Weber
Length: 7:03
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
7 Lunge da lei... De' miei bollenti spiriti... Annina, donde vieni?... Oh mio rimorso (Lunge da lei... De' miei bollenti spiriti... Annina, donde vieni?... Oh mio rimorso)
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Length: 7:25
Performers: Jana Sibera (Vocals), Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
8 Je suis seul!... Ah! Fuyez, douce image (Je suis seul!... Ah! Fuyez, douce image)
Composer: Jules Massenet
Length: 5:17
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
9 Ella mi fu rapita!... Parmi veder le lagrime (Ella mi fu rapita!... Parmi veder le lagrime)
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Length: 5:27
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
10 Quel trouble inconnu me pénètre?... Salut! demure chaste et pure (Quel trouble inconnu me pénètre?... Salut! demure chaste et pure)
Composer: Charles Gounod
Length: 6:14
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
11 Morgenlich leuchtend (Preislied) (Morgenlich leuchtend (Preislied))
Composer: Richard Wagner
Length: 5:15
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
12 Nature immense, impénétrable et fière (Invocation à la Nature) (Nature immense, impénétrable et fière (Invocation à la Nature))
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Length: 5:21
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
13 Toute mon âme est là!... Pourquoi me réveiller (Toute mon âme est là!... Pourquoi me réveiller)
Composer: Jules Massenet
Length: 3:12
Performers: Jonas Kaufmann (Vocals), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
CD comes brand new, never opened or played, factory - fresh and sealed. |
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