Cultured Views

If you have always held the view that male operatic singers were overweight and oldish (think Pavarotti…) or poncy and reedy voiced (think Roberto Alagna…) then think again. These days the opera world is inhabited by guys well qualified in the babe category and the other day I discovered one such singer – a tenor whose voice will make you sit up and take notice as much as will his incredible looks.

The last time I heard a tenor voice that sent shivers up and down my spine was when I heard a recording of a young Jose Carreras singing E lucevan le stelle from the opera Tosca. From that moment I was hooked; not only did he possess a voice to melt your heart but he had the looks as well. But Jose has retired from the world of opera now and we girls need a new hero and I have found one – Jonas Kaufmann.

I was driving and listening to Classic FM when he was played singing ‘Che Gelida Manina’ from La Boheme and I tell you I had to pull over and turn up the radio…this man has a voice that can only be described as absolutely magnificent. His voice is on the dark side of the tenor range, a little in the same way as Placido Domingo, but unique, incredible and unmistakeable. Despite the fact that his voice is so strong and resonant, almost baritone-like in many ways, he sings with great depth of sensitivity and his vocal timbre displays beautiful artistry when travelling from piano to forte. I love the tenor repertoire but am not one for reedy sounding tenors and usually prefer the baritone voice so this man ticks both boxes for me.

I have already ordered a couple of his recordings – this guy is really something else.

Related posts:

1. Classical Brit Awards: Jose Carreras gets a well earned nod
2. Greg Pritchard: counter attack from a counter-tenor!
3. Lend me a tenor – (and I’ll give you a fiver…)
4. A good Carmensita is hard to find
5. Gold is a girls best friend