Jonas Kaufmann goes to Brum

CBSO / Andris Nelsons / Jonas Kaufmann - Symphony Hall Birmingham, 7 March 2012

What’s in the middle of Birmingham but surrounded by sea?

Jonas Kaufmann!

The CBSO’s very, very special guest was placed at the centre of Wednesday evening’s programme, and rightfully so. Before him came Britten’s Sea Interludes; after, Debussy’s La Mer.

But let’s not pretend this was a mere guest soloist spot. With ten songs on the programme (eleven if you count the encore) we received a more bountiful helping of Herr Kaufmann than many an orchestrally-grouted recital programme provides.

Clearly not a Bayer Leverkusen fan,  Jonas bounded on stage full of smiles, revealing his freshly de-braced wall of HD-ready teeth. He swiftly reconfigured his grin into a scowl for Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder. But you could tell his heart wasn’t truly in it. To perform these searing songs with the intensity they demand requires an emotional investment that would make the physical act of singing impossible for most performers. So most, like Kaufmann, act out instead.  I couldn’t fault the supreme craft, nor the breathtaking technical control of the somewhat mannered mezza voce he chose to deploy. But I’m afraid he left me cold. 

A bag of crisps and a cherry coke later (me, not Jonas) came a Strauss grouping centred on the Op.27 songs the composer wrote as a wedding gift for his beloved Pauline. Kaufmann’s unfettered generosity and exuberance shone through as he launched, at last, into thrilling full voice. As Andris Nelsons plumped the CBSO into a plush cushion of sound behind him, the hall came alive. Kaufmann is a singer at the very top of his game right now, matching outstanding technical gifts with unbound passion for the music. How could anyone sing these songs better? The audience, predictably, erupted at the end - though some couldn’t wait that long and burst into spontaneous applause after a breathtaking Morgen. The reward was the predictable but none the less rewarding Zueignung, tangily sincere. 

I got the impression Jonas would have been happy to sing for us all night, but there was a strict schedule to be followed. Strauss’s sweet songs led with surprising ease to the syrup and glitter of La Mer. But it was no anticlimax - Nelsons whipped the final movement into a stormy megadecibel froth to send us home with our ears ringing.

Comments

[Christie F.]

Why did he even have braces in the first place?

Can't wait to hear his Winterreise.

[Zoë Freedman]

Where were you sat? Can't have been far from me in the 3rd row. Totally agree with you about the concert. Though never having heard the Kindertotenlieder before I found them very moving.  I agree Kaufmann was freer without music in the Strauss.

[jamesnimmo]

Will this performance be available on the BBC 3 "Listen again" service?
*************************************
Intermezzo replies - as far as I know it wasn't recorded.

[Stephen]

Not only are the braces out, but he has shaved (sort of). I assume this one encounter with the razor will have to last for the whole tour.

He did sing nicely, though. And the audience were so quiet. He won't get that in Paris, Vienna or Baden Baden.

[villagediva]

How do you put across a text of such tragic intensity which wasn't even meant for publication (by Ruekert)? It 's possible that the Remarkable One erred on the side of introversion (in this first gig of the tour). Unlike you, IM, I don't think he was 'acting' - and did he not brush aside a tear from each eye at the end of 'Wenn dein Muetterlein'? Jonas doesn't fake that stuff. The last verse alone of song 5 was worth the journey to Brum - an exquisite lullaby of joined-up singing - and rewarded, after the orchestra's bit, with a silence of about 8 seconds by the audience - it began to seem strange - who would break it? I was so grateful for that silence.
Amazing to hear the luscious orchestral accompaniment to the Strauss, having got to know them so well with Helmut's piano accompaniment. The spontaneous joy JK injected into the last verse (reprise) of 'Ich Trage Meine Minne' took me by surprise and I unravelled. Hail Jonas, King of Song.......

PS. Birmingham is amazing - we should all go there more often........In one day I saw Leonardo da Vinci drawings, the Staffordshire Hoard, and a Raft of pre-Raphaelites, without battling traffic. With JK and Andris the Sorcerer and CBSO to cap it all!

PPS I agree with you - he always looks as if he could sing until midnight!

[Andres]

He was impeccable, the Strauss songs beautifully sang (I can't get more technical than that; or maybe I do: they were very nice). Thing is, he dared to show up badly shaven and with dishevelled hair. Oh, wait...

Special mention for Andris Nelsons, how long until he is snatched? We need asap lottery fund money, a campaign to save the Andris or something must be set up.

The hall was a paradox. If I closed my eyes the acoustics were awesome, like in Old Testament AWEsome. However, all that red and silver made me think I was inside a giant Pret A Manger.

[Liane Bierau]

I unfortunately had a seat in the first row, never having realised that the Podium with the orchestra is immediately rising from there and the musicians could touch my head with their feet, and since Jonas was standing on the other side of the amazing Nelsons, I could not see him at all, but as usual loved every minute of the music and his singing. I loved Birmingham and as Villagediva I enjoyed the Staffordshire Hoard, Leonardo and the PreRafelites without the big crowds we have here.

[Liane Bierau]

PS @Stephen: I don't know where your ears were. I heard enormous applause, bravos and feet stamping after Cacilie and the encore. I don't think it was less than I heard in Graz, Munich and Vienna.

[Devil's Trill]

Liane Bierau: You've misunderstood Stephen. He meant the attention of the audience during the performance: I thought it was some of the most concetrated listening I've come across for a while, particularly in Morgen.

I'm actually going to the Vienna concert (suporting my wife, who's playing with the CBSO, with J Kauf as an added bonus), so I'll report back what their attention/reaction is like.

[May]

You lucky bunch getting to listen to these great performances!
Devil's Trill, any inside info you can share on the rehearsal process for this tour? Very curious.
Can't wait for the broadcast of the Paris concert in April.

[Lucy Bailey]

Lianne, must have been sat near you as I was on the front row too. Had the occasional view of him. I wanted one of the cellists to play with his arm tucked in as much as poss! I love that hall, worth a trip up just for Morgen! Wish he would do another date in Edingburgh as I would like an excuse to go, more lieder with Helmut over here would be great!

[Stephen]

Yes, I did mean that the audience were quiet *during* the music. There were a few intrusive coughs, but very few indeed, and Morgen was silent throughout.

I really wish though that he would move out of Wigmore Hall in future and into Cadogan Hall, a preferable acoustic in my view, and with a better chance of finding a ticket.

[Liane Bierau]

Lucy, I agree with you, this hall is absolutely lovely but I would never book a cheap ticket in the front row again. I also agree with regard to a recital with Deutsch in Edinburgh which would also give me a good excuse to go there which I have been wanting for a long time, but need the push.
I am member of the Wigmore Hall with no chance to see Jonas, however, the next occasion I may have to speak to him, maybe in Munich this summer, I would like to ask him to give at least two evenings in the Wigmore. I wanted to go to Joyce di Donato who was sold out, but she agreed to give a second recital and I managed to get a very good seat for this. I hope next time Jonas will do the same.

[lossie]

Loved the comment about braces and HD. Poor man, he can't even have his teeth straightened without us all making comments, well meant I am sure.
You are lucky to have been able to hear the concert. We can't get Spotify in Australia yet. If someone knows another way....lead on