After pulling out of the Metropolitan Opera's tour of Japan following "the devastating events in Fukushima, and in view of the fact that the total extent of the disaster is still unforeseeable", Jonas Kaufmann is to disappoint his Japanese fans once again by withdrawing from another tour.
Scheduled to visit Japan shortly with the Teatro Comunale di Bologna's Carmen, he has instead "decided to undergo surgery in early September" according to the Japanese promoter. As is customary with cast changes, there will be no refunds and no ticket exchanges.
There's no word yet on his third and final Japanese engagement of the year, Lohengrin with the Bavarian State Opera at the end of September. If he pulls out of this one too, it could deal a terminal blow to the Munich house's plans. A few weeks ago two thirds of the opera company voted not to join the tour because of radiation fears - even though anyone who skips it will have to take unpaid leave.
(many thanks to Kyoko for research)
Any idea of what kind of surgery? The google translation of the Japanese webpage doesn't seem to elaborate on that.
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Intermezzo replies - I don't know, but as he was healthy last week and hasn't cancelled anything else, I would guess it's relatively minor and probably not vocally-related.
Posted by: y2000k | 20 August 2011 at 10:39 PM
Call me crazy, and a typical American (we can't help noticing the teeth) but rewatching the Berlin Waldbühne concert again on my TV instead of tiny computer--he looked like he had braces on his teeth (the clear ones they have now).
My suggestion of what he could be having done: something teeth-related.
I told you it was a crazy idea.
Posted by: FragendeFrau | 21 August 2011 at 03:49 AM
No refunds indeed, and have you seen the prices? I looked them up recently for the Puritani with Florez which is also part of this tour. No doubt the Carmen was the same. Top whack is 54000 yen, which is well over £400. Prices for the recent Met tour were much the same.
Posted by: Stephen | 21 August 2011 at 02:06 PM
On sober morning reflection, I now think it was merely the lights glancing off his shiny teeth. ;-)
Posted by: FragendeFrau | 21 August 2011 at 02:21 PM
@Fragende Frau
I think you could be right because lately I noticed that when he laughs or even smiles, he does not seem to pull back his upper lip, but seems to keep the upper teeth covered. I often wondered about this, but now I would think he might have braces on his teeth. Only when the cameras ara fairly far away he seems to smile normally.
Posted by: Liane | 21 August 2011 at 03:36 PM
Someone on twitter just pointed out that his site no longer lists either the Bologna nor the Bavarian State Opera productions in Japan on his schedule http://www.jonaskaufmann.com/en/5/schedule.html
Posted by: vf | 21 August 2011 at 06:16 PM
The "surgery" is probably having a shave, which in JK's case would no doubt require a full general anesthetic following by an extended period of convalescence.
Posted by: Stephen | 21 August 2011 at 06:27 PM
@Stephen are you sure you're not my friend Diane? Every time I ask her over to watch an opera with JK, she asks, "well has he shaved yet?"
Posted by: FragendeFrau | 21 August 2011 at 08:44 PM
Heh. A recent photo on the unofficial JK site shows a big smile with--braces! My crazy American teeth-obsessed vision was correct. Thoughts and prayers for the operation which I'm guessing will take place this week.
Posted by: FragendeFrau | 05 September 2011 at 02:54 PM