The New York Times, Arts Beat, August 29, 2011

Daniel J. Wakin

The Tenor Jonas Kaufmann Keeps Plans Despite Surgery

Jonas Kaufmann, a major international tenor who has become an increasingly important presence at the Metropolitan Opera, plans to go ahead with an Oct. 30 recital at the house just two months after undergoing chest surgery, the Met said on Monday. He also remains committed to a run as the title character in a new production of Gounod’s “Faust,” which opens on Nov. 29, and to appearances in the “Ring” cycle in the spring, the Met said. “Jonas Kaufmann has assured the Met through his management that he plans to sing all of his scheduled performances here this season,” according to a company statement. Mr. Kaufmann said on his Web site that he needed to have an operation to remove a node from his chest. “I do not wish anyone to become alarmed reading this, but my physicians have ordered me to have the surgery done as soon as possible, and it will take place after my appearance in Stockholm on Sept. 2,” he said. He is scheduled to sing in the Jussi Björling gala that day at the Royal Opera. Mr. Kaufmann’s Web site lists five other performances in October, starting on Oct. 10.