tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413016439625407817.post3842692357953453740..comments2024-02-24T09:41:50.837+01:00Comments on <big>Leidmotief</big>: Andrea Chénier in Londen (****)Jos Hermanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232684691999740227noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413016439625407817.post-37321701299579953942015-02-03T18:43:12.844+01:002015-02-03T18:43:12.844+01:00I have written more articles on Kaufmann. I have a...I have written more articles on Kaufmann. I have also written on his defects but I do not want to repeat myself over and over again, so this time around it may have sounded more positive than intended. For instance I wrote that he rose to his current popularity as a result of his looks for 50% and 50% as a result of his voice. I also wrote that he has not the perfect dramatic tenor voice and that you will always find a singer in history who has done better but that he is so clever to make the most of it. And that<br />You might agree on this.<br /><br />So, while Corelli certainly has the better (and more beautiful) voice and therefore is able to exploit the dynamics of the part in a more exciting way he also sings in a mannered way. I do not blame him for that. Time flies by. It's just old style singing. Listen how he ends "un bel di di maggio" with the phrase "spiro d'un uom che muore". The last word becomes "muhohore". I hate that. It is an oldfashioned affected way of expressing, like he is going to burst into tears, it calls for a false sentimentality and Kaufmann would never do that. That's one of the elements that makes him a modern singer. <br /><br />Another point I want to stress is that I do not consider opera as an musical art form but as a theatrical art form. For me it's the theatre of the singing actor. So in evaluating a singer I also consider his skills as an actor and that's where his personality as an artist will pop up.<br />Nowadays Placido Domingo is the worst example of the old school singer who does not care about acting or who does not have the talent for it. It's hard to accept that in a long career as his he has not been able to learn to move around the stage in a convincing way. He still does not know how to use his body nor what to do with is arms. That puts me off. You might call this stupidity or lack of talent. How can a portrayal be sincere when it lacks the basic theatrical aspects? This is another where Kaufmann is a modern singer/actor.<br /><br />In a few weeks I will be a witness to his Macbeth in Berlin because I want to see the Peter Mussbach production. I hope he will convince me as a singer and as an actor :)<br />Jos Hermanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08232684691999740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413016439625407817.post-210934596958312472015-02-02T20:36:35.532+01:002015-02-02T20:36:35.532+01:00Thank you very much for taking the time to answer ...Thank you very much for taking the time to answer me. <br /><br />As for your review, you seem to suggest (at least according to the google translation) that Kaufman is superior to Corelli and Domingo as far as his interpretation is concerned. <br /><br />While I can (remotely) agree regarding Domingo, suggesting that Corelli doesn't reach Kaufmann's interpretation of Chenier is laughable, especially since you are familiar with the live 1960 Vienna recording.<br /><br />One must suffer from some sort of auditory apahasia in order to not notice that Corelli displays nuance and shadings which are completely out of reach for Kaufmann. <br /><br />How did Kaufmann sing ''Come un bel di maggio'' in your opinion? Well, it should be quite evident that he sings forte throughout. And how Corelli sings the same aria in his live Vienna performance? With shadings, phrasing and mezza voce when the text call for it (and throughout, a real ability to make us feel that his Chenier has lived life at his fullest and is willing to give it away).<br /><br />How did Kaufmann sing his ''Azzurro Spazio''? With no imaginative phrasing and little meaning given to words. He is just kind of angry throughout and the dreamy introduction or the final declaration to Maddalena is completely lost on him. By contrast, Corelli uses a variety of phrasing and colours throughout and his ''O giovinetta bella'' his full of melancholic tenderness (because unlike Kaufmann he can lighten his voice).<br /><br />I suppose that I can list other differences but the picture is already quite clear anyway. Unless you want to discuss Kaufmann's ridiculous attempts at diminuendos (e.g Ore Soave) that is.<br /><br />Thus, the conclusion which derives from your review when one knows Kaufmann's and Corelli's work is quite grim. Kaufmann is a modern and intelligent singer because he has no really imaginative phrasing, lacks nuance, vulnerability, tenderness and bite. Corelli is ''mannered'' and ''old-fashioned'' because he brings, shade, colors, differentiated phrasing and emotional involvment to each musical phrase. <br /><br />Does this means that ''mannered'' and ''old-fashioned'' singing is preferable? Apparently yes. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413016439625407817.post-80769767259687983562015-02-02T08:31:18.668+01:002015-02-02T08:31:18.668+01:00Actually what I wrote is that Jonas Kaufmann will ...Actually what I wrote is that Jonas Kaufmann will never sound as good as Corelli. I didn't say Corelli was stupid. I used it as a general term because stupidity exists amongst singers. I only said Corelli's singing is mannered in an oldfashioned way, indeed in the 1960 recording.<br />Apparently, one misses a lot of nuances when reading a review through google translator.Jos Hermanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08232684691999740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413016439625407817.post-68118939601189674622015-02-01T16:26:40.601+01:002015-02-01T16:26:40.601+01:00LOL. Corelli is mannered and stupid and mannered a...LOL. Corelli is mannered and stupid and mannered and Domingo doesn't have a clue. <br /><br />How fortunate we are that we could listen to Kaufmann's non existent interpretation, ugly notes, lack of colors and boring stage presence.<br /><br />BTW, try to hear how Corelli ACTUALLY sang Chenier live (Vienna 1960 e.g). This would prevent you to make a fool for yourself.<br /><br />Kaufmann fans are unbelievable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com