The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 02, 2010

Classical review: Jonas Kaufmann

Tenor Jonas Kaufmann is one of the most glamorous figures in German opera since Peter Hofmann; his vocal sturdiness and intense dramatic sense would make him an important artist even if he had a more portly silhouette. This latest volume of romantic-era arias shows why. Every performance gives a clear face to each character and strong emotional purpose to every phrase. A key figure in this artistically distinguished package is conductor Claudio Abbado, who offers intriguingly lyrical glimpses of his take on Wagner's final masterpiece, "Parsifal," in some extended excerpts. One hopes he records the whole opera soon.