Anna is Erwin's woman (but she likes a bit of Jonas on the side)

Not nearly as toecurling as it could have been - bravo/a/i for trying.

That was perhaps the most experimental selection in the stream of greatest operatic hits at Anna and Erwin's blockbuster Waldbühne concert on Tuesday evening. Jonas Kaufmann joined them, and the entire highly-priced extravaganza was broadcast on the German channel ZDF.

You can watch the whole thing on ZDF's website (not all countries), or enjoy a few choice excerpts below.

Mortgage the garden shed and perhaps you too could catch them live in the Royal Albert Hall next year.

  

Comments

[Barbara]

Anna does Verdi. Let's hope for more.

[Sheila]

Thanks for the link. This concert made my day.

[Rose-Mary Hyslop]

Well, my toes curled.

[Diane]

This isn't really my cup of tea but it does seem to have been very well done and my toes are safely uncurled. Judging by the videoclips, there are hordes of punters willing to shell out mega-bucks for an evening of operatic pot-boilers.

I do hope the divine Jonas will have mastered the rôle of Faust sufficiently well not to need the score when he sings it at the Met. in December! And one score between three of them? Were the organisers cheapskates or what?!

[Fran]

I was there, father in law had two tickets but didn´t have time to go. Didn´t expect much and was rather happy I had a chance to attend. Too bad you didn´t include any of Erwin Schrott´s tangos. That was quite something and it surely won over the audience. The sight of Anna almost headbanging during his encore tango was hilarious. And cute.

Some parts of the program, eg Gershwin and the tangos, were rather unusual for a show such as this but it would have been nice to have at least some sort of theme to the selection rather than the potpourri we got.

[FragendeFrau82]

@Diane, when both Erwin and Anna needed music earlier, they had separate music stands & scores. My guess is that Anna needed the music. I *think* there was a music stand up there (saw the streaming version with cuts) and there was some to-ing and fro-ing while the three arranged themselves onstage. I think the fellas were being supportive of Anna--hasn't Erwin already sung that role too?

[Jobsuche]

well, just tried to what that stuff at ZDF.de, does work in my country :-(

[May]

Jonas has sung the part of Faust before. I doubt he doesn't have it memorized, looked like he wasn't even looking at it. I think they were both just being gracious towards Anna. Notice that in the I Lombardi trio JK sang without the music and the other two had their stands there and were looking at the music quite a bit.
I was at JK's lieder recital at Bamberg last month and he had a music stand there but didn't seem to use the music. He kept turning the pages without even looking at them. In Munich a few days later he didn't have a stand there at all. It's so impressive that this guy found the time to learn a 75% new recital program in a jam-packed opera season, in which he sang two new roles. The guy must be a really fast learner, he seems to be enlarging his operatic and lieder repertoire constantly.

So taking all that into account, I was surprised he used the music for the few lines he had in the Trovatore scene in this Berlin concert.

[Diane]

@ Fragende Frau & May: Well, I did guess as much (that The Boys were being gallant); I was just being facetious - sorry! I don't even have any deep-rooted objection to singers using scores at concert performances (although I do find it rather distracting).

[Liane]

@May
Since I came all the way from London to Bamberg and Munich to see him at the rectals I find it surprising that someone else did the same, but maybe you don't live in England and came from somewhere closer. You must have also seen then his greatest admirer Marion who sat in Bamberg in the first row and fourth in Munchen.

[El Cajon]

@Liane, there is a fine line between a Marion and a stalker.

[Hariclea]

@Liane and others... there are loads of people all over this world travelling to see opera and classical music in Europe and much further away, for Jonas and for others. And he is definitely worth travelling for. Also, this is by no means a new phenomenon, these days thank God travelling has gotten easier than in the past and more and more houses also make their tickets available internationally in decent ways; where there is a will there is way.

And by the way it’s anyone’s private business how they employ their means and what hobbies they pursue, there is neither glory nor shame in it, just one doing what ones enjoys doing most. I don’t see what this has to do with any of the discussion above, least of all where individual people sit and so on. I see even less a reason why this should be the object of any public discussions.

[Marion]

@El Cajon
Where is Liane's post? Did she really call ME me a stalker? That's fun, really. Then I hope she keeps her ...out of my sight next time I happen to be at the same concert. You live in UK, you should know the difference between the word supporter and a stalker.
Talking about the scores which they used. Jonas didn't need it for the Faust, they just were polite to Anna. He also was the only one who had no score for Lombardi though he didn't sing this before these 3 concerts.

[May]

@Liane, I came from Israel! So it's a little further away from London... ;) but I had a trip planned around it. Isn't Bamberg such a lovely city? I couldn't get tickets to the concert in Munich though, but was compensated by bumping into Kaufmann himself randomly on the streets of Bamberg a few hours before the concert! He was really nice.

I must say that for me the highlight of the concert was Duparc. Everything was great, but it was just so refreshing to hear something French amidst the heavy romantic program (though I loved it!)

I saw who I think is Marion at the artist's entrance after the concert. Isn't she the woman who does his unofficial website?
@El Cajon, if that's her, Marion does a fabulous job with that website, giving invaluable information on his broadcasts and relays, which is extremely useful for non European fans who follow him from afar. :)

Some of Kaufmann's performances are extremely hard to get tickets for- she always is there in those! Does she have a subscription?!

[Justin Chapman]

Anna Netrebko's English diction doesn't bode well for her forthcoming Ellen Orford...

[Marion]

@ Liane, I see that you didn't call me a stalker
@ May
No, I don't have some kind of subscription and I also don't ask a certain tenor or his agent to reserve tickets for me, though both would do that with pleasure.
I also pay for each ticket. The only tickets which I ever got for free were two tickets for dress rehearsals. I know that I do an invaluable job (read the book about Jonas), but I don't like to make people think that they owe me something for work which I do on my own and which I like to do and I don't like it if people think that I get free tickets. The reason for getting tickets for events with strong ticket demand is to be informed about the start of the ticket sales and to know the best way to get tickets. Sometimes you have to be very fast.
Talking about stage doors. I seldom ask someone to put me on any list, I prefer not to ask for any privileges in this case and I don't use to sneek backstage like other people do. If I want to talk more with the person in question I can always do that by email. My only privilege and the address is certainly a well kept secret since years :-).
Talking about travelling. I have lots of friends around the world and it is always a pleasure to meet them during one of my travels. On September 2 I go to Stockholm for the Jussi Björling Gala and this time I don't have to pay for the ticket because a friend from Stockholm invited me.

[Diane]

@ El Cajon : If travelling considerable distances for opera and concert performances where one's favourite stars are involved makes you a stalker, then I guess I'm one too. As I go without things which many people consider essential in order to fund this, I suppose that makes me an uber-stalker! In my case, it's more likely to be a rarely performed baroque opera that gets me air-bound - but hey, whatever floats your boat!

[May]

@Marion, I hope you are not offended by my comment about a 'subscription'- I said it in jest- believe me I am envious of your ability to get those tickets! I wish I could also. I'm sure you pay for each ticket, a subscription is of course also something one has to pay for.

Like I did write, I thank you for your amazing job on Jonas's unofficial website. I think I saw you at the stage door in Bamberg waiting for him to come out like everybody else but was too shy to approach you and thank you in person! (I spent all my talking-to-strangers chops after meeting Jonas in the street!) I wish I had. :)

Anyway please go on going to all Jonas' concerts and keep us up to date! Thank you!

[May]

also, @Marion, I wish I could read the book about Jonas but I can't speak German apart from a few lines from Die Schone Mullerin! What does it say in that respect?

I gathered that you did not abuse any privileges and while I don't feel I owe you anything for doing work that gives you great pleasure, I am still nonetheless grateful.

[Liane]

@May

I am so glad that you liked Bamberg as much as me. It is an enchanting town and though I lived at one time fairly close I never went to see it. I am, however, green with envy that you met Jonas in the street and talked to him. This happened to me in Heathrow last year and I only had a quick talk with him since we were both in a hurry to get to our respective gates.

@Marion

You know I im in great awe of you and your website and cannot understand why El Cajon hints at "stalker". How could I even hint at anything like this since I also try to follow him to the various places and also saw him twice in the same recital in both
towns. And I am always very pleased to see you when I see you.

[Liane]

@ Hariclea

I don't know what you read between my lines.
I never mentioned the fact wether people can afford it or not and how they spend their money is their own business. Of course. This was never in dispute, I only thought that even a place like Bamberg which is not one of the most visited and of the best known ones by foreign tourists. (I was there 5 days and only saw German tourists from various parts of the country.)draw someone from far away who, I presume, mostly came for Jonas like me and got this beautiful town as a bonus. This is exactly what I meant and thanks God that it is now so much easier and cheaper to travel than ever before and not only go to gorgeous operas and concerts but also visit some lovely places.
This surprised and also pleased me and this was what my remark was about.

[May]

@Liane, it was a brief talk too, he was extremely gracious and agreed to take pictures with my friend and with me, but he seemed to be in a hurry as it was only a few hours before the recital. I told him that we are great fans and had traveled from afar to see him and his reaction was so humble! Seems like such a lovely, down to earth guy. I was so shocked at first to just bump into him there I exclaimed like a giddy schoolgirl- "I can't believe we're meeting you!"
It was such a great compensation since we went to Barcelona in October to hear him but he cancelled that recital... Crushing disappointment as you can imagine ;) In that case Barcelona was more than a lovely place as a bonus, but Bamberg really is special- it's so easy to imagine what it must have looked and felt like in Medieval times. It was magical, that whole day was magical- with the chance meeting and the glorious concert, really, one of the best days of my life.
What was your meeting with him like?

[Liane]

@ May
Thanks for your lovely report and I agree with you also where Barcelona is concerned. It is a very gorgeous town. I know it quite well but had not planned to go to the concert and I am sorry you were disappointed. It happened to me also once or twice.
When I met him at Heathrow I had only seen him three days before at the Royal Opera House in the dress rehearsal of Adriana Lecouvreur and afterwards in the shop of the Opera he was autographing together with Angela. I brought him a little present, Haribo Jelly Babies, which in an interview on the Internet he had said he loved very much. He thanked me very gracefully,he is always very graceful and in a way, as you say, almost humble, anything but arrogant, which he could easily be. I had talked to him before several times after performances and also had photos taken with him which I cherish. So by now, I am very pleased to say, he knows me.
In Heathrow I only asked him how the premiere was and told him that the following week I would see him in the proper performance and whished him a good flight.

[Justin Chapman]

Well when I interviewed him I distracted him and not only cut a lock of his hair but stole one of his shoe as well. And he never noticed! Trump that bitches!

[May]

@ Liane, thanks for YOUR lovely report. I think it's my turn to turn green with envy! ;) Not only that he knows you but that you've heard him sing so many times. Twice Adriana! Wow.
That was sweet about the Haribo Jelly Babies.
My hope is that there aren't that many fans coming to hear him from Israel so next time he may remember... :) his musical memory is remarkable so...

So it seems you've had much longer conversations with him than that encounter at Heathrow! Were other occasions actual dialogues?? :)

By the way, to talk about musical matters, I've listened recently to Gerard Souzay's rendition of the Duparc Melodies. It is interesting to hear how Jonas compares to these greats of the past- Souzay's French is idiomatic naturally and his singing in this is so pure and soft. It may not be to everyone's taste but I loved it.

In that light also, Jonas' French sensibility is admirable even regardless of his German origins. Even if some singers may sound "purer" in certain repertoire, he always brings something special that is uniquely his own. I love it! His rendition of Phidyle will stay with me always!

I think I've managed to define what makes Jonas to me sound not only like a great vocalist but also a great musician- he seems always to be conscious of the MUSICAL FORM of the piece he's singing, whether it be an aria (the way he sings E lucevan le stelle is a prime example), a lied or an entire role. There's always a strong concept of where the music is going to, what the climaxes are and consequently there is so much contrast which makes him to me a most interesting artist- always one with the music.
Not to say that others before him and his contemporaries aren't conscious of musical form- just with him, to me, it seems ever more apparent. Even just in Phidyle (love that song so much, even more than L'Invitation au Voyage.

[Manou]

First the Alfie Boe Appreciation Society - and now the Kaufmaniacs!

Still - it is probably better to be an enthusiastic fan that a blasé cynic...

[Liane]

@May

Last time I spoke to Jonas was after his recital in Munich where afterwards an enormous crowd of people were waiting at the stage door for him. He came quite late because we were told that there was a reception. I waited until he came towards me and I told him (this was the first opportunity I could speak to him)how much I had enjoyed the Walkyrie and that he will always be my "dream" Siegmund. I also mentioned the enormous success of the Tosca in London, and that all the critics, and I think I must have read them all, even the most cynic ones agreed that this was an exceptional performance by all,and by him.
in particular. He smiled and thanked me very much and I left quickly as I felt embarrassed since quite a few people seemed to have listed to me and I also told him that I was looking forward to seeing him in London in the RFH.
When I saw him for the first time in Carmen on BB4 end 2007 his performance impressed me so much that I stayed glued to my seat until the end. I remembered his name from the credits and told a friend about him asking what nationality he is. And I could hardly believe it and was very pleased to hear that he was Bavarian. I have been an opera and music fan all my live. I have heard Domingo, Pavarotti and Carreras live, but never was I emotionally moved by anyone else. His voice touches me as nobody elses, though I look and listen to other singers as well like Calleja, Vogt, Villazon and others but none of them can I personally compare with him, though they all have very beautiful voices.

[Kati]

@Liane... same thing happened to me, and have been following him (not stalking) around ever since - now for 5 years, though not as extensively as you wonderful people; I wish I had the time or the income. When I started my Kaufmania, it was easy to get a ticket and there was not a soul backstage or at the stage door in Chicago where he sang Manon.

I can contribute that I did speak to him backstage after the Walkure and he is scheduled to sing Chenier but it will take 4 years until we hear him...contracted that far out. So we must be patient, and listen to the Verismo recording until then.

[Ivy Violet]

Gorgeous: thanks for sharing this.

[Liane]

@Kati,

Thank you very much for sharing this. It was when he was singing Manon in Chicago that I discovered Marion's website and that was the moment when I started following him, i.e. the first time to Paris where he sang Fidelio. From London it is easy and reasonably cheap to get to Paris. Now that he is ill I only hope that it is nothing serious and that he will be back on stage as soon as possible. We must all cross our fingers and pray if we can.