Maybe I'm biased but I think Jonas is one of the most remarkable human being alive. I delight in everything he does: his singing, his acting, and simply the marvelous person he seems to be. He is certainly the finest German singer since Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. I watch for any opportunity to see and hear him, and hope his career is a very long one! He deserves to be so much better known by typical younger Americans!
I think he knows that singing the Siegfried role on stage would hurt his voice. Siegfried is on stage for multiple hours and has to sing dozens of high Gs and As. I think Kaufmann does sound amazing singing Wagner roles, but it is clear that he is not a heldentenor. More like a lyric spinto I would say. But I doubt his voice could handle Siegfried live. It's just such a brutal role, e.g. Lohengrin comes not even close in difficulty, not because Siegfried would be any harder techniqually or requires certain notes that Kaufmann wouldn't have, it's just the insane stamina that is needed.
SO HOT , AS ALWAYS !!! A VERY HANDSOME MAN ....!!! A MARVELLOUS VOICE ...AND EXCELLENT QUALITIES AS AN ACTOR ... I ADORE JONAS KAUFMANN FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!
Thank you, dear Woodduck20, for your remarks on the broadcast. Yes, you are right, in live broadcasts one cannot tune one single voice as easily as in a studio recording. If Jonas Kaufmann's sound has gained metal and resonances, then I'd be most delighted. I was worrying he'd overthroat even more. Actually, this excerpt of Siegfried does sound very delightful, even to my very critic ears. Finally he's got "ring / squillo" also down in the passaggio, not only on the acutes. It's homogenous now.
While I agree that he has a remarkable voice, is an attractive man, and has fine acting skills, I don't agree with some of your superlative statements, like "one of the most remarkable human being [sic] alive." or "the finest German singer since Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau." But I'm glad you enjoy his performing so much!
Thanks to modern sound technicians, they could tune in some high resonances into his throaty voice. Never believe any studio recording, even in classics, I tell you. Listen to Lauritz Melchior, also a baritone-turned-Heldentenor, and discover what real head resonance and metal is... I know, you will "dislike" my comment until one cannot see it anymore. Okay, do so. I do not critizise you, as I don't have any right to critizise your taste. But I do critizise Kaufmann's manieristic singing. Love
Warten wir ab, ob er diese Partie vollständig auf der Opernbühne durchhält. Ohne Hilfe eines Aufnahmestudios. Besser als K.F. Vogt wird er allemal sein, wenngleich ich meine großen Zweifel habe ob er das Niveau von Andreas Schager jemals erreichen kann.
