|
|
|
|
|
The Star-Ledger, October 11, 2013 |
Ronni Reich |
|
The Verdi Album |
|
There
is no shortage of recordings to celebrate Verdi'€™s bicentennial, but Jonas
Kaufmann provides a worthy addition to the collection.
He
brings an uncommonly deep, full sound to "La donna e mobile" from
"Rigoletto," giving the upbeat melody a sense of playfulness as well as
smooth legato lines. His sustained "Celeste Aida" from "Aida" is just as
well sung, with a breathtaking final decrescendo. Kaufmann'€™s tone has an
intriguing variety of dark, grainy and golden qualities and his phrasing is
consistently thoughtful, whether building suspense while singing of
windswept seas in "Un ballo in maschera" or of vengeance in "I Masnadieri."
He supplies power and drama to the recitative of an Act II scene from "Luisa
Miller" and vividly conveys tremulousness, vulnerability and intensity in
its aria. He sings of heartbreak even more affectingly in selections from
"Otello." Kaufmann's blend with baritone Franco Vassallo in a "Don Carlo"
duet sounds effortless, and he also has sensitive partners in the Orchestra
dell'Opera di Parma and conductor Pier Giorgio Morandi.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|