Product Description

Superstar opera tenor Jonas Kaufmann is featured in this Decca DVD, the next in a series of highly successful and critically acclaimed opera DVDs from the artist. The DVD features him in a key role that he is performing to great critical acclaim all over the world. Of performances last year at the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Times said: Mr. Kaufmann received frenzied bravos from the audience. His russet-colored voice has body and charisma. You could sense amazement throughout the house at his thrilling top notes during Cavaradossi's defiant cries of Vittoria! Yet his plaintive pianissimo phrases were equally impressive. That the youthful, curly-haired Mr. Kaufmann is also heartthrob-handsome did not hurt.

Mostly Opera Magazine reviewed that he is the undisputed leading Cavaradossi of our day and about Emily Magee, his Tosca, sings the part better than anyone I can imagine today. The two stars are joined by baritone Thomas Hampson in the role of Scarpia.

This DVD release coincides with the release of Kaufmann's latest operatic recital on Decca, Verismo (4/19/2011) and follows a number of other highly successful DVDs on Decca including Carmen, Werther and Lohengrin.

Jonas Kaufmann will be at the Metropolitan Opera performing in their highly-publicized new production of Wagner's Die Walküre. The performance on May 14 will be broadcast around the world as part of the Met's Live in HD simulcast series - this will be Kaufmann's debut appearance in this series of broadcasts and will bring him to the largest audience he has ever reached at one time.

Review

Vocally, the honours here go to Jonas Kaufmann whose Cavaradossi is wonderfully sung...On this sort of form, there isn t a tenor to touch him in this repertoire at the moment. Emily Magee has a Wagnerian-sized soprano capable of circumnavigating the role of Tosca with ease...Thomas Hampson makes for a suave and slimy Baron Scarpia --Opera Britannia