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?"
You might be breaching the Trades Description Act in two separate ways here, Intermezzo. Legal aid may be required.
Posted by: manou | 09 July 2013 at 02:28 PM
Jensen is also probably the first opera singer to sing while naked and jumping up and down on a bed. (same opera) He is a real trouper!
Posted by: Regie, or Not Regie | 09 July 2013 at 02:53 PM
Fatuous nonsense...
Posted by: Brian Robins | 09 July 2013 at 03:36 PM
Is the outrageous and rather unsightly 'outie' part of his character make-up, or just an unfortunate trick of the light? or for real? Once you spot it, it kinda follows you around the room. (Sorry boys and girls...)
Posted by: DESR | 09 July 2013 at 05:07 PM
I've seen him in a few things at Komische now - he's great! Well done, him! (Although, like Manou, I may have come here expecting something different from the post title...)
Posted by: Philip Lawton | 09 July 2013 at 05:23 PM
It's never the ones who should, is it, always the ones who shouldn't.....
Posted by: SJT | 09 July 2013 at 05:36 PM
In 1991 Francois le Roux was stripped and washed in Gawain at ROH. One of the highlights of the show.
And there is the famous Cosi fan tutte directed by John Dew in Leipzig in 1995, where both Ferrando and Gugielmo strip and shower and sing after tennis, in the first scene
Posted by: Michael | 09 July 2013 at 05:47 PM
We should all live so fearlessly.
Posted by: Cruz | 09 July 2013 at 06:44 PM
"In 1991 Francois le Roux was stripped and washed in Gawain at ROH. One of the highlights of the show."
But such a small highlight. Whereas, Will Hartmann in the revival provided an additional cast member altogether worthy of its own fee....
Posted by: SJT | 10 July 2013 at 12:31 AM
Talk about the Emperor's new clothes...
Posted by: Oroveso | 10 July 2013 at 12:57 AM