tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9856058.post3356593653480196463..comments2024-03-18T20:41:56.222-04:00Comments on Kinderkuchen for the FBI: Jonas Kaufmann's WertherDr.Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02298893523780056481noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9856058.post-38002933955516253922014-03-25T00:48:21.692-04:002014-03-25T00:48:21.692-04:00Once upon a time when I was very young, I never th...Once upon a time when I was very young, I never thought I would like Werther (so get over it or kill yourself already dammit), even though I loved Massenet and adored Manon. A friend got me a comp to a performance at Lyric Opera of Chicago with Alfredo Kraus (she was in the chorus) - and it had to be for free because I didn't think I liked Kraus either. Long story short: I loved it. Kraus was a revelation. But it's not an easy opera to pull off and most of all you need a great tenor who can act.<br /><br />I think I love the JK Paris Werther slightly more overall because it is spare and beautiful. The lighting alone is gorgeously painterly. But I liked the Eyre production better than the critics (waltzing!!) and Jonas was even better in NY than in Paris. It was a tremendous performance. (How does he sing with tears in his eyes? How do you do that?) <br /><br />After the HD encore, 6-8 of us, all strangers of various ages, stood around in the lobby talking about what we'd just seen and heard, too excited to go home without acknowledging in some way this extraordinary experience. He's like a one man golden age of singing.<br /><br />And I keep thinking how marvelous he will be in Chenier, Tannheuser, Hoffman and Otello. (Everyone should have something to look forward to.)<br /> <br />RackonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9856058.post-19489178638811690972014-03-21T23:05:13.596-04:002014-03-21T23:05:13.596-04:00Interesting you should say that. I think I don...Interesting you should say that. I think I don't like it at all without him.Dr.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02298893523780056481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9856058.post-39951902356831883122014-03-21T22:49:26.646-04:002014-03-21T22:49:26.646-04:00The HD was amazing, but even better to have alread...The HD was amazing, but even better to have already seen it in the house first! I also have the Paris dvd, so I knew they would be good together. This is one of my favorite operas anyway, and with Kaufmann!Kathynoreply@blogger.com