Werther - Jonas Kaufmann and Sophie Koch - Opéra national de Paris - medici.tv

[alragarp]

Una interpretación magistral. Un MAESTRO!!!!!

[anselmonadir]

Fantastic Jonas Kaufmann , this is unbeatable interpretation.

[Simba92]

Wow. His voice just brought tears to my eyes.

[claudiabeechman1]

This is the first time I've heard Kaufmann. A great Werther!

[airmotion1]

Grandiose Gestaltung, faszinierendes Timbre. Eine der ganz großen Interpretationen, vom Timbre gänzlich anders als Alfredo Kraus, aber auf einem Level.

[boyamichicken]

This is just incredible!

[vagcbeato34]

Boa interpretação

Parabéns



[peteradaniel]

Fantastic singing, just work on that terrible French. Make up your mind on the vowels. But other wise 'fabuleux'.

[ciaobpb71]

@peteradaniel ?! His French is just terrific ! A lot of French native singers could learn from him, especially on articulation and links. Being in the house for this production, I can tell you that his French was simpy perfect... and he was the only foreign singer of the whole cast... So, come on, make up your mind! A French native listener

[prince2000ful]

Love this Tenor, He has the real feeling for what he is doing. Look at his eyes!

[drunken177]

First, the opera singers have to hansome. That is very important thing in these days..

[AtheneNikephoros]

In my opinion, he's the ideal Werther--both because of his dark, brooding voice and his dark, brooding good looks!

[AtheneNikephoros]

@AtheneNikephoros (Not my words, by the way--they're my friend's. I agree entirely, though.)

[GOURGONS30]

Jonas Kaufmann est la plus belle et émouvante voix de notre temps.

[SuperDuke42]

I like Kaufmann,is one of the best voice now in the world of opera,but this opera can't be like that so strong,in my opinion should be more delicate.

[Tusson07]

At 2.33, it's easier to express anger with the face (and jaws) than with the abdomen. Apart from the singing, Jonas Kaufmann is a wonderful actor - the best thing on an opera stage since Maria Callas.

[alexgomez2]

@Tusson07 -- Great comment! Kaufmann is a great singer, outstanding actor and impressive voice! The whole package!!!

[NinoUrushadze1]

<3

[operakiet]

Good singing. High A sharp at 2.33 minutes is too forced. Face congested. Jaws tight. He should have sung the A sharp from the abdomen (body) instead; would have been very easy.

[alexgomez2]

@operakiet -- Please refer to Tusson07's comment. He is totally right! As a tenor and having sung this opera, I know there are ways to "ease" the production of a simple A#. Kaufmann has a wide register that goes farther than high C so it's not a matter or effort, but of dramatic effect: "Why did I wake up?" basically if my life/dream was so sweet why in the world did I come back to reality? This is a moment of painful realization. How else can you express such pain in the theatrical context?

[operakiet]

@alexgomez2 You may well be right. But he does that jaw tension + face congestion routinely with high notes eg la scala carmen production with High A natural. So that begs the question: is it artistic effect or just plain forceful? To sing high notes with ease one must have superb grounding in the deep pelvis of the notes preceding the high note so the high note can leap off the pelvis easily; otherwise one is forced to sing from the head which makes for forceful singing and bad technique.

[alexgomez2]

@operakiet Not routinely does Kaufmann tenses his jaw, nor he does he produce a tense expression. You may want to check the video of Kaufmann singing La donna é mobile posted by Toddclassical . You'll notice his total relaxation and happy and round B natural. Amazing to hear such a huge voice sing with agility, uniformity of color and resounding "ring" to merit the great José Carreras (who appears in the audience) standing, clapping enthusiastically while mouthing "wow."

[operakiet]

@alexgomez2 Thank you. I have checked la donna mobilie. Vocal colour is good. However, he sang the High B with so much facial grimace and obvious tension. I would expect a world famous tenor to do better than that. Watch soprano Dilber Yunus handle the high notes without breaking a sweat. She is a natural.

[alexgomez2]

@operakiet -- Dear friend, it's important not to lose perspective. You cannot nor should even attempt to compare the vocal mecanisms of women and men; they're totally different. I'm a singer and a voice teacher and mechanisms of production don't even come close. Sorry my friend, this is a big mistake.

[operakiet]

@alexgomez2 NO, nature makes one instrument and you have to learn to use it correctly. Artistry requires delivery of high As, Bs and Cs without congestion of face, tension of jaw and tightness of mouth. Jussi Bjorling delivered. Chinese AMATEUR tenor Yang Yang delivers in "si, ritrovarla io giuro". The West sees too many forceful tenors & thinks it is NATURAL for males to be forceful and females to sing differently. It is just bad technique. Unacceptable when you are paying a lot of money

[alexgomez2]

@operakiet -- Again, I'm afraid you're right in many ways but you shouldn't compare the mechanism of a soprano vs. that of a tenor. Furthermore, you cannot compare the ease of light voices vs. that of heavier voices. You could compare Wunderlich to Bjorling or Juan Diego Florez to Pavarotti. Likewise you should compare Kaufmann to Giacomini, Corelli, Lauri-Volpi and even Del Monaco. Yes you can sing as a soprano but you'll never sing verismo roles:, only light Mozart roles

[primohomme]

@alexgomez2

Well, males sing differently because they are expected to be more forceful, but in true bel canto technique the way a man sings and a woman sings is not very different at all.

[alexgomez2]

@primohomme ~ You're right to a point. Physiologically women don't have to fight a passagio like man do. You've got to remember that men's voices mature to go down an octave, women don't. I've taught voices both male and female and my specialty is bel canto. You can say the technique is the same, the required relaxation is the same, the support system including breath management, etc, but not the way you handle the passagio. That's where the difference lies.

[primohomme]

@alexgomez2

If you know about the voice you also know there's more than one passagio, and women in fact have even more transition areas than men. The transition from middle voice to the upper register for men is similar as for women in the sense that the voice wants to do the same thing, but with MODERN technique, not bel canto technique...the passagio is a problem for men because we are expected to force chest voice up as high as it will go instead of doing the natural thing, using head mix!!

[alexgomez2]

@primohomme - I think that in terms of true passagio there is only one generally accepted, the others are just transitions from register to register and you´re right, there are many of such transitions. The problem we voice teachers have is that we tend to agree but our glossary of terms differs. I realized that when I moved from México to the US. Many call head voice what I call falsetto or voce di petto for chest voice. In the Italian nomenclature there is no confusion.

[primohomme]

@alexgomez2

Well, head voice and falsetto are two very different things and not the same

Head voice is produced when the vocal folds shorten and thin out but still make full contact, and falsetto only the edges make contacts so there's a lot less overtones.

I'm a dramatic tenor, almost a baritone, but I got a head voice extension to soprano high C and I've had discussions with teachers who think it is a form of falsetto, I've even had to go to an otorhinolaryngologist to prove my point.

[alexgomez2]

primohomme ~ I hope you won't mind one more comment about these differences. I just stumbled but this video where the great Rockwell Blake describes the production of male voice and then he talks about differences between male and female voice. His explanation is masterful and describes exactly what I've tried to say al alone please check the video and pay attention to minute 4:45 and on "Rockwell Blake describes dark timbre and passagio"

[444age]

@alexgomez2 in other words would pressing with the top of the chest and making a big smile to arrive at a high note be considered changing registers, as opposed to passagio? How else to arrive to high notes?

[alexgomez2]

@444age ~ Smiles and support have indeed an effect on high notes but those notes are only produced by virtue of air, relaxation in the throat and abdominal support. Pavarotti was maybe the best example of "big smile" but he would open his mouth big in a triangular shape. Richard Leech smiled small, Kaufmann makes a round mouth, Giacomini makes a small "O." Shape is not what makes the high note.

[444age]

@alexgomez2 Are you a voice teacher? I am LDS in LA and about to give a recital in 2 weeks, singing the above aria. I can hit the #A but without the vibrato. :( what must I do? My vibrato is good throughout the rest of the aria. Help!

[alexgomez2]

@444age ~ I am a voice teacher and my greatest accomplishment has been to free up my student's voices to reach amazing, resounding and above all well-placed high notes. With that said, I'd be very dishonest if I'd give you any indication whatsoever without listening to you first. What you say may be caused by lack of relaxation, extreme support and little freedom in the throat., not enough air, I mean, you name it. Present a video or something and I'll be glad to make suggestions. Sorry abt that

[alexgomez2]

@444age ~ Registers have little to do with positions. Say, they're minor mechanical adaptations that you must make in order to free up your voice as you ascend the scale. Typically tenors have registers on B (below Middle C), then F# -G (passagio "aperto ma coperto"), then Bb and lastly the open register above B natural. Depending of the type of tenor you are, your registers may vary up to a whole step in the scale. Pavarotti is the best school to learn registers. I hope this helps you!

[444age]

@alexgomez2 yes it helps,thanks.

[Se5dg1wick9]

He is so a wonderful singer and performer. Very phantastic also this aria!! I like it

[bpb71]

Sortie confirmée du DVD le 8 novembre, en France !

[voce29]

Exquisite!!

[Kachureo62]

Joder en el minuto 1.30 parece Domingo

[AminaBellini]

buenisimo!!!...Schöne Stimme!!!!

[DrFernandoBicudo]

Fantástico!!!!!!!!

[bpb71]

A DVD release has just been confirmed by producers!! It should be by next Fall or by the end of the year... at least in France. And also, this tremendous production has just received the Top prize from French critics association for Best music play of the year.

[10surdix]

@bpb71

Le site Decca annonce la sortie du DVD pour le 17 septembre. Heureuse nouvelle!

[bpb71]

@10surdix

Merci pour cette excellente nouvelle ! Ne reste plus qu'à compter les jours !

[fabiantenor]

WOW! Look how he opens his throat at 1:06 and releases his tongue forward to prepare the high B-flat...

[525ENZO]

Je vu ca ca dans bastille ,merveilleux !!

[crobemi04]

merveilleux tenor pouvant tout chanter ce qui est rare

[coralrabida]

alguien duda de si es el mejor tenor del mundo o no? está claro.

[acitipo]

@coralrabida No digas eso porque "sacas roncha" a muchos, yo estoy de acuerdo contigo... como tenor dramatico es maravilloso, pero tenores liricos, hay otros, y ligeros otros. cada uno en su tessitura y repertorio, Jonas no podria jamas cantar Guillermo tell, o Il Puritani, pero en Puccini es insuperable. al pan pan.

[bpb71]

What Jonas kaufmann did in Paris was awesome! Absolutely stunning! The whole cast, director and conductor delivered one of the most vibrant and breathtaking Werther ever performed... It is just a pity the full video is no more available on tv... Let's hope (or let's make it happen!) Ideale Audience and Opera de Paris will join efforts to release a dvd soon!!

[furiosoTenore]

...mega!!! 10/10 !!! :)

[Ruchfun]

I recently discovered this work by Massenet

on Medici TV and I must say Kaufmann has a wonderfull voice that is well suited to the caracter of Werther: sad,introverted and melancholy.

A very carismatic tenor :)

[angeliux81]

Como un tenor de esa grosura de voz puede hacer esos matices!!! Estoy impresionado, ademas es Galaaan! y carismatico. Tiene todo el tipo, que este mucho tiempo en la opera!!!

[acitipo]

@angeliux81 Amigo, el es tenor dramatico, en Puccini, es fantastico se mueve como el pez en el agua, pero lamentablemente no puede cantar una Opera de Rossini completa, no es su registro. sin embargo por ser joven y ademas posee unos agudos maravillosos, que con el tiempo dejara de tenerlos.

[Deamutcho]

A melhor interpretação de Werther que já vi! Bravo!

[amonasro100]

With Jonas Kaufmann Germany has got a tenor of world classe, once again, like it was 50 years ago with Peter Anders and the very young Fritz Wunderlich.

Germany can be proud of him.

[bpb71]

Et puis, quel intérêt de savoir qui chante le mieux (aux amateurs, allez sur spotify par exemple, réécouter tous les enregistrements disponibles) ? Le fait est que tout était absolument magique dans cette production et que kaufmann y était en état de grâce... l'incarnation même de werther... alors peut-être qu'il ne pourra plus jamais le chanter comme cela ou peut-être le chantera-t-il encore mieux. Qu'importe, après cette production idéale !

[quetzalfr]

Quelle étrange vanité Mr Patalipatala , vous avez de parler ainsi de l'"Art lyrique en danger"! Je n'ai pas connu d'art lyrique en meilleure forme .Kaufmann dans Werther ou Don Jose,Florez dans Almaviva ou Tonio ,Stemme dans Ariadne ou Isolde , ou Isokoski dans la Maréchalle ou la Comtesse etc. etc.

Pour Werther , j'ai vu à Garnier Kraus en 84 puis à Favart en 94 . Evidemment incomparable ; depuis ce jour seul Kaufmann a pu me donner un vrai bonheur aux côtés de Koch dans cet opéra .

[gillesparis09]

moi j'ai adoré...j'avais vu Werther il y a trés longtemps à l'opéra de Tours....bof....j'ai été emballé par le charme et le charisme de Jonas...il est somptueux et l'on peut s'émouvoir de son jeu et de sa voix sans tomber dans des pseudos critiques non fondées....je le regarde en boucle sur le site de Arte....

[TheLalilalilala]

Vu 3 fois, pas du tout aimé. Le lyrique est de plus en plus en danger ! Et quel concert de louange ! Avez-vous les oreilles bouchées ou n'avez vous jamais rien entendu !!!?????? On se demande pourquoi l'art lyrique va mal mais au vu de ce que le public en pense, je comprends pourquoi .....

[bpb71]

Que vous n'ayez pas du tout aimé, c'est votre droit mais pourquoi s'infliger 3 fois cette "torture" ? Et tirer de votre goût personnel un avis péremptoire sur l'état de l'art lyrique aujourd'hui... Oreilles bouchées contre esprit borné, reposez en paix, humble mortel !

[athemag]

@bpb71 on ne saurait mieux dire, mais bon ! il y en a qui aiment souffrir - et payer pour çà en plus

[bpb71]

@athemag Apparemment, il faudra souffrir longtemps encore... la sortie n'est pas prévue avant janvier 2011 aux dernières nouvelles !

[anneb100]

voir trois fois que l'on aime pas, faut le faire!! Fallait céder votre place à d'autres qui auraient été bien heureux d'être dans la salle!! après heureusement, tout le monde n'est pas obligé d'aimer ce werther, mais nous n'avions jamais vu la bastille réagir ainsi après un tel spectacle ! Mais a propose dites nous ce que vous n'avez pas aimé??

[alconti1]

Magnífico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!

[anneb100]

J'ai vu ce Werther deux fois à l'opera bastile, le 29 janvier et le 4 février, deux soirées inoubliables qui resteront à jamais graver dans ma mémoire! Tour est magique dans cette production, et Jonas Kaufmann! quel Werther extraordinaire!! Ce jeu tout dans la réserve, cette voix sombre et sublime! On ne demande plus qu'une chose un DVD !

[isabelle070209]

Le ' fevrier vous avez pas entendu une folle hurler "Jonaaaaaaaaaaaas" pendant les applaudissements?

[66cecilia]

E' semplicemente......BRAVISSIMO,­BELLISSIMO, GENTILISSIMO,....ed...INVIDIAT­ISSIMO.ho avuto la fortuna di avere posto in Teatro per ascoltarlo...è ancora meglio dal vivo.

[isabelle070209]

A certains qui ne savent pas lire. Je répète que j'ai adoré. ADORE. J'étais à la dernière.

Kaufmann a été simplment somptueux.

[ducadibudapest]

Jonas Kaufman, merveilleux Werther!

[NAMORLEINAD]

GENIAL!!!!

Jonas Kaufmann is the best ever!

daniel

[OperaoperaoperaoperA]

Magnifique Kaufmann

[QUETZALCOM]

J'ai assisté à 3 représentations (historiques) et ce Werther balaye tout ce que j'ai pu voir et entendre jusqu'à présent, tant en émotion qu'en qualité vocale. Kaufmann est inégalable dans ce rôle. La diction est parfaite, les nuances qu'il distille sont magnifiques, les piani bouleversants etc. Ce que je retiens de ce Werther c'est l'adéquation totale des chanteurs avec l'oeuvre et un chef qui sublime la partition dans un long adagio ; on est pas près de retrouver une telle alchimie.

[adprt]

J'y étais le 1/02. Quelle émotion!

[lolapermesso666]

Excusez moi mais on peut avoir son avis quand même ! J'aime particulièrement le spectacle vivant et me déplace souvent pour l'apprécier dans le monde entier, alors si je ressens le besoin d'écouter la vidéo ( sachant que mon commentaire est ironique )c'est que le spectacle ne pas donné le frisson et c'est mon droit non ?

[isabelle070209]

Je ne suis pas d'accord avec ce que vous pensez de ce Werther, cependant vous avez bien le droit de penser differement. Je suis moi même souvent en désaccord avec ce que pense la plupart des gens (ex les mises en scène de Chéreau).

Or tout cela est subjectif...

[lolapermesso666]

J'y étais aussi et j'en suis sortie déçue .... il vaut mieux regarder la vidéo .... Misère !

[isabelle070209]

J'y étais aussi le 4 février... Magique. Simplement magique.

Où étiez vous placé?

[luvxl]

Hier soir la dernière, une merveille, un miracle. Un triomphe.

Last night I was there for the very last show and it was a miracle. The cast was more than brilliant and Jonas gave a breathtaking performance. Fabulous.

[isabelle070209]

@luvxl J'y étais aussi...

[Cogen2009]

je sors de Bastille: le meilleur Werther jusque là...

[isabelle070209]

@Cogen2009 J'y étais aussi

[masettoallegro]

Mieux y en a pas!

[ullalange]

JK ist unvegleichlich

[dolcesuegiu]

Davvero vergognoso. Un lupo mannaro, e poi Kaufmann... ùùùùùùùùù ùùùùùùù

[isabelle070209]

@zebulline Moi aussi. J'y étais à la dernière....

[TheClassicalFun]

Sublime!

[luisiege2]

Oh That's a really good voice.

Thanks for the video.