One giant selfie ! Jonas Kaufman Tenor for the Ages, hagiography not documentary. The Curse of Celebrity. It's not JK's fault. When marketing hype takes over, the artist becomes Commercial Product, his art incidental by-product. Kaufmann truly is one of the greats. "A singer who thinks" as Antonio Pappano "with matinee idol presence". Absolutely. We're incredibly lucky to have JK, he's more than just a singer. But this film, by John Bridcut, is embarrassing, catering to a market that thrives on hype. So, love JK, don't love the promo video.
True fans love the artist, and love the art. They don't bitch if he cancels even if they lose money because they understand voice and don't expect singers to deliver like machines. They aren't obsessives who push themselves above all else, it's not good for mental health. JK is so charismatic that his personality is magnetic, which is something to celebrate. Nothing wrong with being sexy, either. But knicker throwing is daft, and the media types who play it up are cynical manipulators, who care more for clicks than quality.
It was good to see the dressing rooms at the Royal Opera House again and recall the buzz that goes into making a production. Antonio
Pappano's enthusiasm is always fun. And it was good to hear the clips of the Vienna Tosca where things might not have gone to plan. JK is a genuine artists whose love for repertoire spurs him on to new challenges. Taking JK to Aldeburgh struck me more as a thing than a serious attempt on JK's part to take on Peter Grimes. But who knows ? JK has the intelligence to realize that it's always prima the repertoire, and how it can be explored. Sadly not many get that Please read my piece on JK's Mahler Das Lied von der Erde. No-one is so expert that they know everything and don't need to learn. But a lot of the script seemed geared towards the mantra that art can't be taken seriously..
Thank goodness that the show was followed by real opera, Verdi Otello at the Royal Opera House, good enough to convert anyone to the genre if they care enough to listen and pay attention. Here is a link to the thoughtful review in Opera Today of the live performance. Please read and enjoy. The range lies low, so it suits JK well : If his interpretation wasn't macho, so what ? Otello's a much more complex figure than macho man. Delicious singing !
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+True fans love the artist, and love the art. They don't bitch if he cancels even if they lose money because they understand voice and don't expect singers to deliver like machines. They aren't obsessives who push themselves above all else, it's not good for mental health. JK is so charismatic that his personality is magnetic, which is something to celebrate. Nothing wrong with being sexy, either. But knicker throwing is daft, and the media types who play it up are cynical manipulators, who care more for clicks than quality.
It was good to see the dressing rooms at the Royal Opera House again and recall the buzz that goes into making a production. Antonio
Pappano's enthusiasm is always fun. And it was good to hear the clips of the Vienna Tosca where things might not have gone to plan. JK is a genuine artists whose love for repertoire spurs him on to new challenges. Taking JK to Aldeburgh struck me more as a thing than a serious attempt on JK's part to take on Peter Grimes. But who knows ? JK has the intelligence to realize that it's always prima the repertoire, and how it can be explored. Sadly not many get that Please read my piece on JK's Mahler Das Lied von der Erde. No-one is so expert that they know everything and don't need to learn. But a lot of the script seemed geared towards the mantra that art can't be taken seriously..
Thank goodness that the show was followed by real opera, Verdi Otello at the Royal Opera House, good enough to convert anyone to the genre if they care enough to listen and pay attention. Here is a link to the thoughtful review in Opera Today of the live performance. Please read and enjoy. The range lies low, so it suits JK well : If his interpretation wasn't macho, so what ? Otello's a much more complex figure than macho man. Delicious singing !
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