These days, for a solo vocal album to stand out
it usually has to find a niche. It's not enough to just have a famous singer
traverse the repertoire familiar from umpteen previous like-minded recitals.
In this there is something rather gloriously old-fashioned about Jonas
Kaufmann's latest. Yes, it has the theme of verismo, and there are some
rarities in the playlist. But its great strength, and the reason people will
buy it, is simply this - a great singer-actor at his peak, singing very,
very well. "Kaufmann has entered this world completely", wrote Gramophone's
Mike Ashman in his review. "His Italian is good. He is never afraid to sing
softly - and does it most beautifully - and there is plenty of power when
needed.. .A perfectly recorded and stunning recital."
INTERVIEW Jonas Kaufmann When I was a student and listened to
the records of Domingo, Corelli and many others, I used to think, "Man, it
must be awesome to be able to sing that stuff?" And it is. When Tony Pappano
and I put together the programme, we agreed that the album should include
some arias and scenes which are not so well known as well as familiar
warhorses. The sessions in Rome, in March last year, were a sheer
pleasure. I felt that with Tony and that orchestra taking part, the whole
project was under a lucky star from the outset. It didn't seem like hard
work to us; we just had fun putting it all together. Once we got a scene in
the can, we were laughing and hugging each other, feeling as happy as little
kids.
