Never has Giuseppe Verdi composed revenge, intrigue and jealousy fierier and more diabolical than in his late opera Otello. One of the greatest love stories in literature – Otello is the second of Verdi’s three Shakespeare operas – fails brutally, cruelly and senselessly. With the title role of Otello, Jonas Kaufmann takes on what is probably the most demanding part of his vocal register He is “in splendid form” (Kronen Zeitung) and “has sung his way into the Olympus as an interpreter of Otello” (klassik-begeistert.de) with this performance. Baritone Ludovic Tézier “is unrivalled as Lago” (Kurier). “This baritone’s attacks are like acts of tonal violence, his legato mischief clever manipulations. A devil on earth.” (Der Standard) Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen is “a Desdemona to fall in love with” (Die Presse) with “a voice to kneel down to, with a timbre that captivates” (klassik-begeistert.de). Adrian Noble’s staging moves the action to circa 1900, stripping it of its historical context. Emphasizing the inner world of the main character and his emotional disintegration, his Otello becomes “a psychological thriller” (bachtrack.com).
Festive Gala from the Semperoper Dresden 2018 – J. Strauss: The Bat
In this gala evening from the Semperoper Dresden Franz Welser-Möst brings his incomparable musicianship to the most Viennese of all operettas, Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Die Fledermaus”. The concert version shines with a distinguished cast headed by star tenor Jonas Kaufmann as Eisenstein, Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Rosalinde and Elisabeth Kulman as Prince Orlofsky. A sparkling production full of fizz and subtle humor.
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2021
Every year some of the world’s finest soloists meet at the Wolkenturm in Grafenegg. The Tonkünstler Orchestra, under the baton of Yutaka Sado, rolls out a scintillating carpet of sound in the Schlosspark. In 2021, soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen, one of the most exsiting contemporary vocalists, takes charge of the Wolkenturm. Together with tenor Benjamin Bruns and the pianist and artistic director of Grafenegg, Rudolf Buchbinder, they delight the audience with masterpieces from Schumann to Lehár. The wonderful open-air setting is illuminated by a “light score” by light artist Marcus Neustetter.
Jonas Kaufmann – My Vienna
My Vienna is a deeply personal tribute to the world-famous melodies from the birthplace of waltz and operetta. Jonas Kaufmann has always had a special rapport with Austria and Vienna. His grandmother had a fondness for the light classics and was happy to sing the evergreens of Johann Strauss, Franz Lehár and Robert Stolz – a nice contrast to his grandfather’s passion for Wagner. As a child, Jonas spent much of his free time on his grandparents’ farm in Tyrol. Austrian television was almost more familiar to him than its German counterpart. Since then he has had a deep love for Viennese songs and operetta. “The music always put me in a good mood”, he recalls. “When I had unlikeable things to do as a student, like cleaning or vacuuming, all I had to do was play Carlos Kleiber’s Fledermaus recording, and in no time at all I had a grin on my face.” Viennese songs and scenes from operettas; music by Johann Strauß, Franz Léhar, Emmerich Kálmán, Robert Stolz, Ralph Benatzky, Jaromir Weinberger, Peter Kreuder and Georg Kreisler.