Playbill Arts, 13 May 2011

By Albert Imperato

20 QUESTIONS WITH: Tenor Jonas Kaufmann

Jonas Kaufmann has been making waves at major opera companies on both sides of the Atlantic in recent seasons. With his ardent performances and charismatic stage presence, the Munich-born tenor is now established as one of the world’s most important singers. In recognition of his achievements, industry colleagues and peers paid tribute to him last month when he was one of five honorees at the sixth annual Opera News Awards. His eagerly awaited role debut as Siegmund in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Wagner’s Die Walküre has been widely acclaimed, described by some critics as one of the standout performances of the year. The New York Times review called Kaufmann “handsome and brooding,” and noted “the audience fell in love with the new Met Siegmund” and his “dark, textured and virile voice.” Kaufmann records exclusively for Decca Classics, which last month issued Verismo Arias, described by Gramophone as “a perfectly recorded and stunning recital.” This Saturday, May 14, Kaufmann can be heard in the Met’s final performance of Die Walküre this season, simulcast live to movie theaters in the company’s popular “The Met: Live in HD” series. 1. A few works of classical music that you adore: The symphonies of Gustav Mahler and Dmitri Shostakovich and always the opera I currently perform (Wagner’s Walküre right now). 2. Classical music recordings that you treasure: Bach Goldberg Variations: Glenn Gould (Sony 1981, DVD); Mahler Symphonies: Vienna Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein (DG); Mahler Das Lied von der Erde; Wunderlich, Ludwig, (New) Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer (EMI); Schubert Die Schöne Müllerin; Aksel Schiotz, Gerald Moore (HMV/Danacord); Wagner Die Walküre: Traubel, Melchior, Varnay, Schorr u. a., Metropolitan Opera/Erich Leinsdorf (live, 1941, Naxos); Dvorak Cello Concerto: Jacqueline du Pré, New Philharmonia Orchestra/ Daniel Barenboim (EMI); Josef Metternich: Opera Arias (Electrola 1953/54, Preiser) 3. Favorite non-classical musicians and/or recordings: The Beatles 1967-70 (Blue Album, EMI); Domenico Modugno: Tutto Modugno Mr. Volare 1956-64 (WEA); Georg Kreisler: Die alten bösen Lieder (Preiser); Dire Straits: Money for nothing 4. Music that makes you cry – any genre: "Soave sia il vento", Trio from Mozarts Così fan tutte 5. Definitely underrated work(s) or composer (s): The verismo composer Riccardo Zandonai and his opera Francesca da Rimini 6. Possibly overrated work(s) or composer (s): Every composer has got weak und strong points, even Giuseppe Verdi. 7. Live music performance (s) you attended – any genre – that you’ll never forget: Barbara Cook’s concert at the Metropolitan Opera (January 2006); Bruckner symphonies with the Munich Philharmonic and Sergiu Celibidache (Munich, early 90’s) 8. A few relatively recent films you love: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Das Leben der anderen (The Lives of Others) 9. A few films you consider classics: All about Eve (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock), Star Wars (George Lucas), E la nave va (Federico Fellini), Il Postino (Michael Radford), La vita e bella (Roberto Benigni) 10. A few books that are important to you (and why): There are just too many to mention. Thanks to the invention of iBook my bookshelf with favorites is portable now. 11. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re most proud of: I don’t play golf 12. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re embarrassed by: My longing to be perfectionist 13. Three things you can’t live without: Family, music, nature 14. “When I want to get away from it all I…” … go sailing. 15. “People are surprised to find out that I…” …. am one hundred percent German 16. “My favorite cities are…” New York, London, Munich, Paris, Rome, and many smaller cities like Edinburgh and Salamanca 17. “I have a secret crush on…” Gummi bears 18. “My most obvious guilty pleasure is…” Coffee and sugar 19. “I’d really love to meet (or to have met)…” Carlos Kleiber 20. “I never understood why…” Opera isn’t more popular, ‘cause it’s so much fun