Jonas Kaufmann isn't the only singer to get gonged. It's awards time in Berlin too, where Komische Oper veteran Jens Larsen has been awarded the title Berliner Kammersänger.
The bass departed Sunday night's Poppea naked, in a pool of blood. Well, he is playing Seneca. He popped on some trousers before returning to the stage to accept his award from Intendant Barrie Kosky.
Larsen is used to relieving the strain on the costume budget. He made his mark as Osmin in Calixto Bieito's 2004 Entführung aus dem Serail, where he became possibly the first ever opera singer to sing naked - in the shower. Larsen wasn't bothered. "After all," he said "who takes a shower in swimming trunks?"
