Die Walküre - Jonas Kaufmann | The Metropolitan Opera

[BenjaminWagnerFan]

horrible, Kaufmann should not sing Wagner...ever.

[saxamaphoneguy1]

Is anybody else oddly reminded of Lohengrin during this excerpt? 

[parkycarkas]

from what i understand, Kaufman stole the show at the met.

[georgerannie]

fhey are wonderful.

[garfreed]

My piano teacher used to say that Wagner was the real McCoy. He is!!

[Loganberrymusic]

I have heard Jonas make what I would consider to be some questionable choices with his rep, but to me he sounds at home with Wagner, stylistically speaking. The character he portrays in his voice suits a heavy, heroic role. If the criticism is that he is not the greatest Siegmund, well, would you rather hear him sing La bohème?

[Bodental]

I was there on May 15 sitting in row T on the side. Suffering from some age related hearing loss I did notice some lack of projection during act 1 as the protagonists were forced to sing behind the unfortunate apron that cut off their legs from view (as can be seen in the videos). The projection changed completely when the singers moved onto the top of the apron. Kaufmann's voice carried beautifully and was gorgeous from that moment on. Why didn't Levine protest that stupid part of the set?

[bb1111116]

@Bodental; "Why didn't Levine protest that stupid part of the set?"

Great singing but strange sets. That's typical of productions of Wagner operas these days. I'd add another thing with this production which I didn't like; the Valkyries riding "surf boards" in the beginning of Act 3.

The only modern setting of a Ring opera which I can stomach so far is the new production of Die Walküre from La Scala in Milan. Part of that production is on YouTube.

[Teffhiphop]

Kaufmann is a really good singer, he suplies the absence of arias on the Wagner's opera!

[lindagenerosklaren]

I saw this production live - he sang effortlessly - his voice is very unusual - naturally dark - it goes over the orchestra and he doesn't have to push - the staging was not the greatest - but they made the best of it - it was wonderful

[visse264]

@lindagenerosklaren I'm sure he sang effortlessly, like good singers usually do, but I've read some reports of people complaining his voice didn't carry far enough, didn't go over the orchestra. I guess it depends on your seat in the MET hall. It's great to sing without pushing, but in that case you'll have to have a voice that is strong enough to carry far without having to push, of course. Agree with you about the staging. Below par.

[44abelly]

Oh for heaven's sake stop your SILLY bickering, you frustrated armchair opera stars. Enjoy the beauty of the music and the voice. Why cannot you resist the temptation to DISSECT every note?

[umroo2014]

I wish Jonas would realize he's a baritone...

[baldassare01]

why can't he not just drop her? she's slowing him down.

[visse264]

@baldassare01 Why should he drop her? He's coming to save her. So that would be kind of odd, I think. Or are you referring to Kaufmann singing slower than you would have liked? I think James Levine is responsible for the musical direction, not Westbroek. So, you see, I'm somewhat puzzled.

[FrancescaErni]

So this is what tenors are supposed to sound like. What a delicious tone.

[fastborzoi]

what's not to like?

[UnSuBX1]

Jonas Kaufmann is a very good spinto tenor

He can sing lyric roles as Rodolfo (La Bohème) and Alfredo (La Traviata) to the heavier, as Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca) and Radames (Aida).

Thank you for posting and sharing

greetings

[Cissy97]

Not as resembling twins as jeannine Altmeyer and peter Hofmann, but nonetheless very much near.

Kaufmann does not own as much 'animalism' as hofmann in this role. Probably it is a matter of temperament. Singing wise he is perhaps even better than Hofmann in this role.

[amfortas1978]

a bad thing of HD is, you can see water dropped from one's mouth. I know Domingo had this moment too, but with HD it's clear as you can actually see the white line linked to one's lips....

[visse264]

@amfortas1978 I wouldn't really blame Kaufmann for that. It looked to me, for a moment, he was totally amazed himself too. The basic thing is he didn't really sound and act like someone who's been wandering around for years and finally found his long lost sister. But that's just his way of singing. He might look too nice as Siegmund, but I guess he can't help that. The make-up department , however, succeeded to make Westbroek look a lot worse then in reality.

[amfortas1978]

i just came back from the cinema and unfortunately system crashed at act 3 so i came home :(

i saw kaufmann for all, very refreshing singing and performance, but as he said, he doesn't want to become a full wagner tenor, and i don't think he should.

he is a good siegmund but I doubt it would be his best role. there are other roles fit him better, at least for now.

[dvdgrog]

Awesome performance by Kaufmann, naysayers notwithstanding. Beautiful, virile, committed performance.

[swetergrl91]

I just saw this yesterday and he was fantastic. It's so hard to act AND sing Wagner. There were some funny moments -- spit happens. There was real chemistry bewteen him and Westbroek, as well as between Terfel and Voigt. The real star of the show this season has been the movable panels!

[corellithebest]

I saw yesterday Live HD broadast and I must say Kaufmann's Siegmund is PERFECT in my opinion, rich, dark, strong, shiny ringing voice filled with sheer masculinity and dramatic power, but also coloured with lyric tenderness where required, as well as Westbroek is a perfect Sieglinde, also rich, dramatically intense, but also tender, both a perfect synthesis of powerful drama and lyricism.

[joanabanyeres]

@corelli the best l agree entirely. Sigmund, really for voice and  good looking

[irenecabrejos33]

@corellithebest , I suscribe entirely to your words, for I saw it yesterday also and shall feel this joy for many years to come...

[zitto60]

Il timbro di Kaufmann é piú scuro di quello di Terfel. -:)))))

[Triosfrios]

Kaufman and Wagner: A perfect combination.

[LeeKatherine20]

I had the great fortune to see this production of Die Walkure on May 2, 2011. Kaufmann's Act 1 performance was, intentionally I believe, restrained - he really brought out the "loner" aspect of Siegmund's character. but I can tell you that he definitely warmed up in the second act. Herr Kaufmann nailed it home when he refused to go to Valhalla with Brunnhilde. In no uncertain terms he made you BELIEVE that he would be with Sieglinde or that he would die. Exhilarating!!!!

[visse264]

@LeeKatherine20 I really hope Kaufmann proofs me wrong, the 14th of May. I have to admit, I only listened to the live audio stream and I wasn't that impressed. I think this 'restrained' singing isn't intentionally, it's his voice type. He might improve over time, this being his first Siegmund. Would be nice if he had warmed up before the first act. After all, that's his main part. Fingers crossed. Looking forward to it.

[YazooMusic]

I saw the May 5 performance. Kaurmann was amazing. Everyone was good--even Deborah Voight after a rocky start had a great third act. Levine was ill, would have liked to have heard him conduct. It is a magical production.

[AlanahBellydance]

This was gorgeous and the audience broke out in cheers with a standing ovation at the end.

[sisifus100]

@visse 264: He is a fabulous actor, I 've seen him and don't speak about things you didn't have seen. I han hope you sing better than he, or????

[visse264]

@sisifus100 Totally agree. It's not fair to judge his acting skills if you haven't seen it for yourself. That's why I said I can't confirm yet if he's a fabulous actor. To do so, I'll have to see him first. Sounds logical to me. It would be great, of course, if he turns out to be a fabulous actor.

[ursulaleon1978]

Kaufmann es un sueño de hombre ;)

[ursulaleon1978]

@visse264 :O

[TheTenorjeff]

Not great.. I really wish we could see a great Siegmund, like Clifton Forbis, round out this otherwise incredible cast. Kaufmann's voice lacks richness, and he really struggles on those low notes which is odd because with his timbre you'd think he would have no trouble with low C's. Plus, he is quite sharp on that high G. It is probably his best sounding note here, but its way sharp!! He is a pusher, big time.. I don't think he will last long singing Wagner if he keeps pushing like this.

[visse264]

@TheTenorjeff I think you're right. I wish Kaufmann was the real twin brother of Eva and that, in this way, he would have been able to share (inherit as it were) her perfect match between voice type and character. But you can't have it all. Watching them perform, however, I do think there's a twin like chemistry between them.

[angryjalapeno]

@visse264, bizarre. Maybe they should hire real twins and have them sing and make true love on stage too to satisfy your desire for more More MORE.

[visse264]

@angryjalapeno I think I explained what I was trying to say. I wish people weren'\t immediately offended by someone criticisinf Kaufmann, even for a tiny bit. With all the praise he gets, he'll be able to handle that. The more Kaufmann sings Siegmund, the more he'll be able to get that match. I sincerely believe so. Just logical to me.

[sebussy]

@TheTenorjeff Kaufmann isn't in any way a pusher. He has one of the most remarkable techniques on him out of any singer, especially tenors. Just listen to him singing "Gott, O dunkel hier" from Fidelio. Technically flawless. This, as @visse264 says, is his first Siegmund, it's live in what looks like a nightmare of a production notes can go out of tune. big deal. he is a fabulous actor, he looks the part and he will, i believe, become one of the greatest wagnerian singers of all time.

[visse264]

@sebussy I don't know yet if he's a fabulous actor, I'll find out soon in the MET HD broadcast. Really looking forward to it! If he has got about 50% of the acting capabilities of his twin sister (EMW), I would be more than happy with him, that's for sure. As for the singing part, maybe I'll better leave it to TheTenorjeff, being a tenor himself.

[operastud82]

@TheTenorjeff I cannot disagree with you more. Having heard Jonas on several occasions, he brings real singing to this role, among the rest of his repertoire. I would never use the term "pushed" to describe Jonas' singing or technique, his sound is easy, connected, and vibrant. I'm not sure how you can listen to his voice and claim that it lacks richness...he has a beautiful, round and dark sound (ie. richness in color and timbre). Most Wagnerians shout and squillo their way through, he doesn't

[visse264]

@operastud82 Sorry, for not being the person you're addressing here, but: Having seen the HD broadcast (previously an audio live stream), I must say Kaufmann's Siegmund just doesn't get to me, especially in the first act: monotonous throughout (lacking richness, flexibility), lacks real bite (he's singing it like Lieder), not impressive acting and has a way of singing with his eyes almost closed. As beautiful as the voice might be, in itself, it's not a real Siegmund voice, I'm afraid.

[amfortas1978]

@visse264

i also noticed he sang behind and pushed the orchestra in the big paragraph in act 1. that's a sign of .... well, i am going to say it nicely: he tried to sing it more comfortably.

I don't mind if someone sing it like a lieder at some parts, but i agree it shouldn't be for all parts. Anyone who did hear him in opera house will know that, he is not a big voice tenor. That might bring some limit to his Wagner role. Anyway, it's a good try, and at least he looks very nice as siegmund.

[RSLify]

@visse264

There was a reason why his eyes were almost closed. The text clearly states that if he looks at the Valkyrie he is going to die, he was trying to avoid looking at her. His acting was dictated by the text.

I prefer Lieder singing to barking anytime, but I guess it is a matter of taste.

[visse264]

@RSLify I was not referring to a particular scene. I just noticed that Kaufmann in general, as some singers do, has a tendency of singing with his eyes half closed, which isn't necessarily attractive in close-up HD shots. But it's no big deal, not that important. Lieder singing can be beautiful, of course, especially at times when there's a real need to do so. But I don't think it is either Lieder singing or barking, as the great Siegmunds in the past have proven.

[operastud82]

@visse264 I still disagree with that assessment. What, according to the apparent Wagner-experts here, is a "real Siegmund" voice? If for some reason it is the apparent belief that in order to be a Wagnerian singer, one has to a) shout, b) be incapable of singing high notes securely, c) push the voice in order to sound heroic & d) sing everything at full force without any sense of nuance, phrasing, color, or emotional depth, then I'm sorry to say but that belief is completely wrong & misplaced.

[visse264]

@operastud82 I'm not sure which assessment you're referring to exactly, since I gave a number of comments. I don't think it necessarily takes an 'apparent Wagner-expert' to be critical of Kaufmann's Siegmund. I wouldn't say I am. I'm just listening and, to sum it all up, as beautiful as his voice is in itself, I do think he's adapting Siegmund to his voice, his traditional way of singing, instead of adapting his voice to the way of singing that I feel is needed for the Siegmund character.

[operastud82]

Respond to this video... Jonas has a voice full of color...he has a dark, baritonal quality that is pleasing to hear, rather than the typical, bright, often pinched, squillo we are all-too-used to hearing sing larger repertoire. You can go ahead and say that to you it sounds like he's singing Lieder, but I would argue that that is a benefit...he is capable of phrasing, actually imbibing emotion into the music...not just hook & push. Wagner's music is very sentimental and should be SUNG.

[SPTN58]

Singing was fabulous! But, OMG!!! I could NOT believe the effort, the calculation, the histrionics required by both singers to step up on that ridiculous set. $16MM??? No wonder arts companies are going bankrupt! Pfui!

[kph11863]

@Visse

At this point who do you feel DOES cover all aspects of the role that should have been hired over Kaufmann? I believe that this is his first go with the role in his career, so it might take some time to settle in. I am not familiar with Simon O'Neill's voice at all, but I think he is due to take a swipe at it at the Met in a few seasons.

[visse264]

@kph11863 In your first comment I didn't exactly get the impression you thought it might take some time for him to settle in. But that's exactly what I said in my first comment on him. I think there's a lot of hype about Kaufmann, sometimes due to the fact that he doesn't have the looks of say... Alberich. I'm just listening to him and I think about it what I said in my previous comment. I like Clifton Forbis a lot, alongside Eva-Maria Westbroek, in another YouTube clip. Perfect couple.

[visse264]

I think the MET did well to select this particular clip of Kaufmann. I think it is his best scene of the entire first act. It is true, he has a fantastic voice, no doubt about it, but I don't think he is a 'role model' Siegmund and I think he never will be. I just think he doesn't have the voice to cover all aspects of Siegmund, especially in the lower registers. Maybe in a number of years I'll have to revise my opinion. I'd be happy to do so.

[visse264]

It is nice, of course, to have all these HD recordings and close-ups. But it also means the make-up department has a job that is even tougher then in the past. Between 0:26 and 0:30 I notice something that looks like a skin overlay to the right of Eva's right eye, close to her hair. But I may be wrong, maybe it's just a weird vein or something...

[wotancat1]

a todos los teatros de ópera, ¿ por qué diablos del anillo casi siempre graban más " La Walkiria " ?, al final me llenaré de Walkirias, jaja

[LohengrinT]

Jonas is a God but they actually paid someone to design this set and costume - wow what connection did he use? :))

[Jaydoggy531]

@LohengrinT

The set itself I think is pretty remarkable, but I will agree this particular scene is a touch on the ridiculous side.

I can see that the platforms are meant to look like part of the massive tree, but it looks a little too science-fiction-y.

[LohengrinT]

@Jaydoggy531

the green yellow is omg omg omg Colors! each means something, each one combined with another also means something -

Sense of color, sense of space, sense of graphics - it is an entire science. They spend so much money in the Met, why not hire the best? unless there are cutting budgets there too ahahahahah

[Jaydoggy531]

@LohengrinT

I thought the lighting effects in Rheingold were pretty genius - sensing Loge's movements and having fire follow him is pretty neat. I just think here it's not very successful. All I can guess is that it's meant to represent the wilderness. But it looks too lime. Had it been more of a foresty-green, it'd look much more natural.

[LohengrinT]

@Jaydoggy531

perhaps from a distance the sets look better

[Jaydoggy531]

@LohengrinT

Unfortunately for the Live in HD audience, the sudden and jolting camera angle switches combined with the occasional extreme and awkward closeup make it a little harder to watch. I think the video director tries too hard.

[francesca7564]

Une splendeur, dommage que le prix des places soit inaccessible !!!

Cependant, très grand compliment aux artistes .

Merci pour le post .

[kph11863]

This man could sing the encyclopedia to me, and I would be in heaven.

[isolda35]

@kph11863 You have right!! I think just the same !

[visse264]

@isolda35 Forgive me for being a bit cynical, but I somehow wonder if it's just his voice that makes you feel that way. But to be more serious, confirming that normal encyclopedia reading could be considered dull, I thought he made his Siegmund sound more dull than it essentially should have been. Too slow, too soft, too 'cultivated' in a way, lacks real passion and bite. I know I probably belong to a minority of people to think so, but, given the freedom of speech, I think I should say so.

[RSLify]

@visse264

I think you should blame Levine for the "too slow". I agree, I found the 2nd act way too slow, but you can hardly blame Kaufmann for that, did you expect him to disobey they conductor?

[visse264]

@RSLify His way of singing, his voice is just like that, kind of extended. That's because he tries to do everything lyrically. Nothing wrong with it in itself, except for Siegmund, I think. I've read reviews that praise Levine for being so sensitive to the singers needs. I think it's true that Levine adapts to the voices that are available, not the other way around. We'll never know exactly but that's what I think.

[RSLify]

@visse264

While that is generally true, Levine is also famous for his slow tempos in Wagner. I do not think it had anything to do with Jonas Kaufmann per see who had to follow the tempo given to him.

As for Kaufmann's Siegmund, I think the final verdict is not yet in. I would like to hear him sing this in a different production under better circumstances. Lyrical Wagner may also be a matter of taste, it is mine, but it may not be for everyone.

[visse264]

@RSLify I don't know Levine very well. He seems to be just great. Undoubtedly he's also famous for other things than slow tempos in Wagner. You're right, it's a matter of taste. To my taste Kaufmann is adapting Siegmund to his own voice. That's fine in the real lyrical parts, as in this clip. Then he's at his very best. But you can't do that in all parts of Siegmund. Also the lower registry is a problem for him, I think. But it's his first time. It can only get better as he goes along.