Jonas Kaufmann

**MAuer** · November 9th, 2020, 01:07 PM

Promotional video for JK's Christmas album:

There's also another YouTube clip from this album with his recording of "Let It Snow."

He sings this material in a very idiomatic style -- but I really wish he'd chosen to record other English carols instead if he wanted to include selections in this language on the "International" CD that's part of the set. I'd much rather listen to him singing the two tenor arias from the first part of Handel's Messiah, or traditional pieces such as the "Coventry Carol," "What Child is This," etc.

Guess I shouldn't complain too much, though, since I'd always hoped he'd make a holiday recording.

**MAuer** · November 25th, 2020, 01:16 PM

The German television broadcasting company ZDF recently finished filming a holiday special with JK that will be shown on Christmas Eve. Of course, those of us living outside of Germany won't be able to watch it, but I'm hoping this program will be released on video for the 2021 holiday season. Filming took place at St. Nikolaus Church in Oberndorf, Austria, where Franz Gruber and Father Joseph Mohr composed "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) early in the 19th century. JK also appears at the little "Stille Nacht" chapel and is also seen riding in an old-fashioned sleigh while he sings "Jingle Bells." Snow was even trucked in to the area from Obertauern to provide the requisite ambiance, and the tenor is accompanied by the guitarist Tobias Regner in the original version of "Stille Nacht," just as it was performed by Gruber and Mohr. Other performers include the Mayor of Oberndorf, Georg Djundja, who is evidently a talented organist, as well as the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, a children's choir from a local school, and the brass section from the Oberndorf community orchestra.
This actually reminds me of an old Christmas video by José Carreras that I have in VHS format. It was filmed in many of the same locations, and Carreras even sings "Jingle Bells" while riding through the deep snow in a horse-drawn sleigh. With any luck, we can look forward to JK's version next year.

**MAuer** · December 22nd, 2020, 12:45 PM

In a talk show on German television on which JK was the guest (seen on YouTube), there was considerable discussion of a new “coffee table” book about the tenor that has just come on the market or is about to come on the market. Titled “Jonas Kaufmann: Eine Bilderreise” (Jonas Kaufmann: A Journey in Pictures), the tome is loaded with photos of JK onstage and off. Right now, the book appears to be available only through Amazon’s branch in Japan. Since promotion for the book has started, I suspect it won’t be all that long before Amazon’s European branches stock it. If/when it might be available on the western side of the pond is anyone’s guess.

**Florestan** · December 24th, 2020, 05:46 AM

Perhaps this has been posted in this thread before, but I just found it yesterday.

**MAuer** · December 24th, 2020, 01:05 PM

JK's voice just seems made for Beethoven's music.

**Florestan** · December 25th, 2020, 01:24 AM

**MAuer** · December 25th, 2020, 01:12 PM

More JK and Beethoven: a couple of arias from Christus am Ölberge.

If there were a complete recording of this oratorio with him as tenor soloist, I'd buy it pronto.