Jonas Kaufmann opens up on his health issues
OperaFrom an interview with Die Presse:
JK: I struggled for a long time without knowing what I actually had. I had a bad cough and was completely covered in mucus. If I, as a singer, hadn’t had such excess lung capacity, I would have been out of breath with every step. I went from one doctor to another and each one said something new: everything from reflux, food intolerance, allergy to nasal drip syndrome was diagnosed. No treatment helped, not even rest and a long stay by the sea. Then self-doubt set in. I asked myself, “Am I doing something wrong?” Have I changed the technique?” Until they finally found a multi-resistant strain of bacteria that was very comfortable in my lungs and only reacted to two antibiotics. I then had to take high doses of it for four weeks and the side effects were terrible. I still have some of them today.
But they worked?
JK: Already on the third day! Suddenly I could breathe again. But I was only allowed to stop taking the medication once the bacteria were all gone. So it was very difficult, but it was worth it. If such a setback had happened to me 15 years ago, I don’t know whether I would have remained so calm.
How did you manage to do that now?
JK: I am in the fortunate position that there are not so many of my variety on the market. I could take a break for two years and the theatres would still offer me contracts. As a younger singer that wouldn’t have been the case, then you start all over again and try to build trust. I don’t live in this distress and I don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care whether I sing or not. On the contrary.
Read on here (especially about sugar intake).
A very superficial artist and an even more superficial human being.
„…there are not so many of my variety on the market“. A real artist would never consider his audience as customers, but maybe it‘s not a coincidence that his name is Kaufmann (salesman). His voice didn‘t improve at all and indeed he doesn‘t need to prove anything, because there are few left (in the business and outside) who understand opera today
He was being ironic. Are you tone deaf?
A rather negative take on an honest view of his situation. He could have expressed that sentiment differently but I didn’t find arrogance just blunt expression!
Irony is what closes at the Opera House on Saturday night!
I think he’s more commenting on his good fortune. Or maybe he is arrogant. Maybe i English he can’t express what he really means.
I agree with you – but his English is exceptional, he speaks it quite fluently.
After more than 20 years of operatic career , out of which the first 10 were very fruitful artistically, this is all he has to say : ” there are not so many of my variety on the market”. And “I m not going crazy”. And he gives you the crazy look on the cover photo of the article. I guess he is already beyond crazy. The mad star is sacrificing himself on the altar of the crazy market rationale.
What a stupid comment. Did you read the whole interview and what the comment “I’m not driving myself crazy” was referring to?
What an idiot you are
He has a one in a million voice and brilliant actor and he has suffered with illness have some compassion
“I had a bad cough and was completely covered in mucus.”
Is he a singer by any chance?
Perhaps you should suffer from severe asthma & you’d know what he means. Life is not easy when you fill up with mucus & have to propel it out – the only way, vicious coughing.
And a “multi-resistant strain of bacteria” should not be taken lightly! Nothing to joke about.
Better late than never. Shirley Verrett also suffered many years until her malady was properly diagnosed and cured.
If they put their conscience to sleep (and cure whatever artistic/moral qualms that might pain them ), these stars can go on forever. Jonas Kaufmann did that and now he goes on forever.
In fact, Kaufmann is one of the greatest tenors of his generation and also a marvelous actor. Confident in his accomplishments, which are many. One hopes he keeps his health and voice, even as the latter moves toward baritone.
One cancellation can destroy the relationship a singer has with the administration of a theater. Often resulting in that singer never traveling to that town again. Singers reading this know this to be true. Kaufmann cancels with no negative career consequences. Somehow Alan Green has been able to accomplish a great deal of damage control for his cash cow. All singers have physical issues which they have to deal with. Not all of them are afforded a forum to detail those issues with the hope that the public and theaters will excuse them for leaving them high and dry.
There are many fine tenors in the world today. This singular fixation on Mr. Kaufmann has always been perplexing to me. If he is the great hope for opera, then opera has no hope at all.
Wee Jonny Kough has a wee cough. Oh dear.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the camel!
Funny how juvenile critics arise.
Let’s stuff the trumpet with wet thick glue & see how well it does. Being inanimate, it would be easy to flush out. Not so, a human body.
Joking about a serious illness! Are you crazy?
This marvelous singer has been ridiculed, regularly on this site for missing/cancelling concerts, performances in operas. Now we know why.
It’s time for Norman and everybody else to apologize for making assumptions about Kaufmann’s “arrogance” or lack of respect for his audiences. Being a professional singer is a high-wire act: you have to be in perfect health. Your body, your voice is your instrument.
Jonas Kaufmann has now recovered and is singing well – but on this blog the only way to write about this artist is still his illnesses and cancellations. Why, Mr Lebrecht, have you never done any post about his artistic successes this year – his debut as Tannhauser, roles like Radames, Siegmund, Chenier, Otello, numerous concerts/gallas. Kaufmann was in New York – that’s probably close to you? – and had great success in a staged version of Schwanengesang – nothing about that here. Just illnesses, health problems and cancellations. You are deliberately damaging his reputation, knowing that many read you and rely on your opinion, unfortunately. Do you have any personal beef with him?
That’s what you call the deepest boulevard!
Indeed. His Otello at the Vienna state opera in November was superb in every way, and recognised as such by critics.
Jonas Kaufmann is great dramatic tenor with amazing artistic qualities on the stage.
I watched him in many roles of operas: Don Carlo, La Damnation de Faust, Werther, Carmen, Manon Lescaut, Othello, I’ll Travatore, Tosca, Wagners circle, La Boheme, Faust, Rigoletto and performance of Schubert songs .
Every time JK brings his own interpretation of the role with exceptional voice qualities.
He is very passionate and believable on stage, and doesn’t have any ego if you meet him in person. JK talks very openly about his roles and how he works on rehearsals with directors and conductors. He is very intelligent artist and speaks fluently English, Italian and French.
You can watch many interviews with him, and be amazed how he deeply involved with every role.
I wish him a good health and continued performances on stage.
We are lucky to see him on stage in our time.
As as fellow musician, I would also like to have some rest and a long stay by the sea, in order to improve my performance. I promise to remain calm.
Jonas Kaufmann sang in Hamburg during the ceremony in which the groups for the European Championship were chosen. If he was healthy enough to do THAT on 3 December, then I would prefer not to read, hear or see any excuses on his part, should his up-coming Calaf in Vienna on 7 December not a success!
Oh my God! some comments are so stupid and also full of envy and disgust… Has the artist personally hurt each of the authors of such comments??? I think he doesn’t even know about their existence!
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Dear maestro how are you doing now? I hope you take care with your immunology. Hugs
Kaufmann is a great singer. He’s getting older and has been through a lot. I don’t expect a cheerful comment.
All he has to do is sing and I will pay for the ticket and enjoy his sound with deep pleasure.