Jonas Kaufmann quits La Scala opening night ‘for family reasons’
OperaThe tenor hath posted:
For family reasons, I am forced to cancel my participation in the production of Verdi’s “La forza del Destino”, which will open the Teatro alla Scala’s 2024/25 season on December 7th. I have already had the privilege of attending this extraordinary Italian cultural event several times, so I am all the more sorry to miss this special event, and to disappoint the audience and my colleagues this time.
Nevertheless, I hope for your understanding – especially in a country where family is still very important.
Jonas Kaufmann
He will be replaced by Brian Jagde, who recently sang Forza in Barcelona.
Peculiarly, Kaufmann will be in Milan a week earlier on November 29 for the Puccini anniversary concert with Anna Netrebko, conducted by Riccardo Chailly.
It looks a bit like a selective cancellatoon.
An anniversary concert is far smaller commitment: days, not weeks.
I believe he said he was unable for family reasons to commit to the rehearsals for Forza. Sounds fair enough to me.
If you can’t honor a contract don’t be greedy about collecting your fee. Stay home.
I think he’s being superstitious given the history of La Forza. But whatever, Jonas is no longer the big whale that he once was in my book.
Is Brian Jagde the best they could get? Another Lando Bartolini clone.
Jagde isn’t even Bartolini-level. Adequate voice, theatrically bland, no charisma. Even the tenors at New York City Opera in the 1970s were better. He has great management.
Jagde has a bit of a wobble- they should’ve tried for Martin Muehle but I guess for whatever reason, he hasn’t been anointed By the powers that be.
Luciano Ganci, Who is singing the role in the second cast, also would’ve been a far better option than Kauffman or Jagde.
But alas, “star” status in today’s PR-oriented system is much more important than one’s artistic abilities.
He is still the big whatever. I heard him in the tour-de-force of the Puccini tour in Germany, France etc. He was fantastic as usual
This guy needs suing, it’s the only thing that’ll stop this behaviour.
Yeah — family shouldn’t matter at all. Sod ’em — Simon wants Kaufman, and nothing else matters.
Not quite. JK knew the dates when he accepted the engagement. Pulling out now is weasel-like behaviour.
Yes, and he can look into the future!
I would say, though, that if somebody bought tickets and had to travel a great distance for the performance this would be especially galling. The end result will probably result in audiences being “Kaufmann wary”.
Brian Jagde will deliver an outstanding performance. It’s an incredibly challenging role, and I had the pleasure of hearing Brian sing it at the Met. He was exceptional, and La Scala is truly fortunate to have him!
Yes I heard him do it at ROH and was impressed
He’s a typical example of today’s ignorance on the part of audiences and inept general directors: passable voice, no personality, gets the job done. In the 1970s he could have been Jon Vickers’ cover at the Met.
Jagde is a typical preening peacock of a tenor, with a half-decent voice, limited intelligence and no apparent interest in anything approaching artistry. It is shocking that Scala can’t do better – JK will be sorely missed.
So what would “doing better” have looked like?
Imagine glazing for Kaufmann…
So, you know him well enough to question his intelligence and all else? I actually do know him and can attest that you are quite wrong.
What are Jagde’s bad points?
Accurate assessment. He’s a journeyman. Watch Vickers, Giacomini, Del Monaco et al on YouTube and save your money. They were also in good productions, not the stupid ones staged by today’s terrible directors and general damages. Oops, gotta run: YouTube time!
Above all, he is loud.
Genau hat er geschrieben, dass er an den Proben nicht teilnehmen könne und so auch nicht auftreten kann. Der Auftritt mit Frau Netrebko erfordert keine lange Anwesenheit in Mailand für Proben.
I used to be a huge fan of JK and have seen him live several times including a wonderful Forza at ROH with AN I think he Has cried wolf rather too often in recent years for reasons that may well be legitimate But I think when it’s therefore a legitimate reason with family people just think he’s crying wolf again I hope his family problem resolves itself What seems to be forgotten these days with some singers is that audiences actually pay money to want to see them and want some certainty they are going to turn up
The recent Werther problem at ROH was a case in point I think singers book their diaries so far in advance that by the time they then come do do the role they decide that role now isn’t for them
Enough moaning though from me
“What seems to be forgotten these days” – a few names from the past: Aragall, Corelli, Caballé – famous for their cancellations!
So is Martha Argerich, a fact that seems to be perfectly acceptable around here.
Life happens — even to classical musicians.
Martha Argerich is 83.
I saw him I. Werter at the ROH. He sang the night I went but was not well. He did sing pretty well considering. It turned out he had covid and was quite poorly. He has been in good form recently with highly regarded performances in a tour of Puccini concerts. He fulfils his obligations if he can. This man loves to sing and does not cancel lightly despite what some people say!
JK sure likes to sing , he has a great voice, but does he like to perform? Big demanding roles in big demanding contexts?
JK maybe likes to entertain and to be entertained but maybe not go into heavy difficult roles, family life is more joy for him, for others it could sometimes be a prison ! Maybe.
Apart from a handful of performances of Pagliacci in Vienna and Munich and two performances of Parsifal in Erl, his coming season consists only of concerts. It is very telling …
He is the director of Erl and he obviously takes the job seriously and intends to be there. His Puccini tour proved that he is in excellent voice.
Is it really so bad that he has got older, and no longer is the singer he once was?
JK is getting old. He’s almost done anyway. Too bad such a non-stellar replacement is the only La Scala option [or so we’re told]. But that’s indicative of today’s sub-par opera scene.
I was fortunate enough to have seen Vickers in Forza at the Met, so I can die happy anytime. It would take at least 50 Jagdes or others to approach JV’s astounding power… not to mention his charisma. Now others can tell me I’m living in the past. Know what? It’s a great place to live, on YouTube and wherever. Better than compromising one’s artistic standards just for the sake of attending an opera.
If you are talking about charisma. Kaufmann has it in spades. So there!
he had. in the past.
possibly he realized he cannot sing a good Forzza anymore.
pitty they didn t do Forzza at la Scala 10 years ago
Hi TruthHurts
This is the second time I enter a comment. You must be QUITE OLD to have seen Jon Vickers in Forza at the Met….and you are also QUITE OLD when you say that JK is ” getting old” when he is only 55. But obviously you spend your time giving these opinions. You gave 5
( one below) on Nov 20. Have you nothing else to do?
Obviously not. This is the second one AND THE LAST I GIVE. I am not QUITE OLD AS YOU.
Singing a concert is a lot more difficult than singing in an opera. You don’t have the story, sets, props, colleagues and chorus to take the onus off you. In a concert it is just you and your audience. You might have a guest appearing with you but on the whole you are on the stage and singing almost constantly. I never belittle an opera singer giving a concert. It’s one of the hardest and most intimate performances they can do.
Typical Jonas BS.
https://youtu.be/SyIIuV5cZVo
Just watch this.
He is no longer able to sing.
Looks like a charity gig in an old people’s home. Dear me. So soon? He’s only 55.
Do you have inside information??? Or just malicious insinuation?
Family is first ❤….everyone is critical…when 90% of us can’t sing a note…Do what you have to JK…
I saw a small part of the first rehearsal last Friday in La Scala. Sounded good!
Are you the Paul Salter from the RCM in 1986?
Whome did You hear “sond good”?
He has to attend a great-niece’s school piano recital, family’s very important.
At this point in his career, it comes down to: do I need the money? do I need the exposure?
For him, his answer is no. What is another La Scala season opener? What is another La Forza?
If he were 25 years old making his debut in Italy, that same family event that is so important today would’ve been irrelevant for him back then.
Few opera singers in history reached such a point in their career where they could blow off La Scala, Kaufmann is among them.
@ethant: Then knowing his pull, he should never have accepted. It’s irresponsible.
So greatness is measured by non-performance?
At this point, whenever Jonas is announced to headline they should simultaneously announce his stand-in, so the audience has an idea of who they’ll be actually paying to hear.
Does he do anything but cancel these days?
Singin 11 conzerts on tour all over Europa f.e.
He can’t sing. Inaudible. He could never sing actually.
And you would know?
The King of Cancellations.
Is he planning to retire soon?
Lots of quality time with his children and (maybe?) grandchildren.
His voice cant take It anymore…forza…endless screaming Will do that…we”” see Puccini…
What else is new? He cancels more than Amtrak.
And Brian Jagde just canceled some Liceu Forzas due to a ‘bad back.’???
La Scala has long stopped being a serious theatre, and the opening nights have long stopped being the focus of Italian social and cultural life. They are just occasions on which Anna Netrebko comes and sings badly to a largely rich Russian audience while Italian singers watch from a distance.
Not exactly. I’ve been there, have you?
Why would I go to the Scala or Salzburg and spend a fortune on dreadfully sung performances when I can hear excellent singing for a fraction of the price. I may be mad but I am not stupid
I don’t know about this, but I do know that Sant’Ambrogio , the traditional opening night of the season is high profile and will be written up , not only in the Corriere but in all the Italian media
In my worldwide opera and concert going experience I find American audiences the least knowledgeable, least critical, applauding at all the wrong places, and giving the most standing ovations.
Oh Cantuar, what a …
Now they’re all coming out, the super experts Kyle, Ben, Bill, Joseph, Tom, David … missed you!
Good friends in NYC in the forties, Vladimir Horowitz and Oscar Levant were notorious cancellers. Apparently Oscar quipped to his friend that they should issue a joint press release starting with “Vladimir Horowitz and Oscar Levant will be available for a limited number of cancellations this season.
It’s been reported that he was singing in his favorite football stadion (Bayern München) on the opening night of La Scala. The two performances would have collided.