Who could resist hearing one of the world’s most beautiful voices up close, singing alone with a piano? Song recitals, especially of Lieder (song in German), used to be standard fare in concert-goers’ diaries. Yet now, beyond specialist series and festivals, such events are becoming oddly rare. In a world dominated by pop songs – surely not so different, just noisier – exactly why the classical song recital has become an endangered species is a mystery. Jonas Kaufmann, widely regarded as the “world’s greatest tenor”, is determined to solve it.
“Everywhere we have difficulties in selling song recitals, because people are no longer used to this genre,” the German superstar says, on the phone from his summer holiday. “Maybe it’s not an easy-access art form. People are afraid it will be too long or too boring. And that’s sad, because it is unique and so intense that it would be a shame if it were just to vanish from the world’s artistic map.” Read more
Tosca, live from Munich
As part of “Opera for All” the Bavarian State Opera will be broadcasting the performance of Puccini's Tosca on Saturday, July 27 from 7 pm, with Eleonora Buratto, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier in the leading roles and the Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by Andrea Battistoni. The production is by Kornél Mundruczó. Here is the link to the live stream on Staatsoper.tv
Photo: Wilfried Hösl
