Kaufmann snubs Barcelona, causing mass shakeout
OperaJonas Kaufmann has pulled out of next summer’s Adriana Lecouvreur at the Liceu ‘for reasons beyond the theatre’s control’ (as the Barcelona authorities nicely put it).
The consequences are far-reaching.
Kaufmann will be replaced by Roberto Alagna. Eleonora Buratto has withdrawn from the title role; her replacement is Alagna’s wife, Aleksandra Kurzak.
Anita Rachvelishvili has resigned ‘for artistic reasons’. Her role will be taken by Daniela Barcellona and by Clémentine Margaine.
Freddie De Tommaso will sing the opening performance of David McVicar’s revived production, conducted by Patrick Summers.
Complete nonsense, all this. There are two casts of principals planned for this run. Kaufmann was in the first cast along Sonia Yoncheva and Anita Rachvelishvili (and had only three, and not four dates like the others). Eleonora Buratto was in the second cast and was to sing with Freddie De Tommaso, not Kaufmann. As from May 30 to June 11 Kaufmann is scheduled to sing six Cheniers in London – and Adriana’s premiere is on June 16 maybe he decided he couldn’t do it (especially that his Maurizios date back to 2010/11). Maybe the absence of Anita (whose voice literally fell apart after the birth of her child) has something to do with his decision, or maybe not. Mr. Lebrecht has Pavlov’s dog reaction to the name “Kaufmann” trying every time to ridicule him and make him look like an idiot. Why Slipped Disc never mentioned, say, “Doppelgänger” at New York’s Park Avenue Armory or his recent “Otellos” in Vienna? because he didn’t cancel and was universally praised for his performances?
I am not sure Kaufmann ever signed a contract!
You are still alive?
I heard two of Kaufmann’s Doppelganger performances. He was magnificent.
Will he appear at the ROH next summer?
He is scheduled to sing Andrea Chenier, but his website Termine are blank for end May-early June
Just to warn you that if you’re going to buy tickets to see Sondra Radvanovsky (Maddalena), good, go ahead. If you’re buying tickets just to see Kaufmann (Chenier)…..be warned that there’s a high chance you won’t actually see him.
I like Jonas and have bought tickets and heard him in recitals and operas, but he hasn’t appeared for all his bookings at ROH in 2022, most of his bookings in 2023 and 2020 (ie he was audibly very unwell when he sang one performance, then had to be replaced at the last minute).
I don’t think he’s being difficult on purpose, I think he just says yes to too many engagements, then gets unwell due exhaustion from travelling and multiple performances. When he is not ill (which was only once out of five -expensive- performances of his that I booked) he is very good. But definitely do not miss Alagna and De Tommaso if you’ve never seen them!
Maybe.
I have never known him to cancel anything I had booked tickets for (although I could not get seats in Vienna six or seven years ago when both he and Gheorghiu cancelled!) but Pappano is going to conduct and they have worked together many times. This will be Pappano’s last performances and I doubt that his friend will let him down
It is not only him , the entire classical music mafia is at work here ( and its spheres of influence ).
not problem for him
he is well off.
bless him
could you explain that please? I mean it’s sincerely not ironically.
All you need is one Ardis Krainik!
Clearly no one with that intelligence and integrity running any opera house today. She is greatly missed!
Kaufmann hasn’t cancelled Adriana. There was never a mention of this on his website; it’s the Liceu presenting him as part of the cast long ago, without verifying his collaboration. On Marion Tungs Inofficial Website it was always mentioned as “to be confirmed“.
The new cast is really good- Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak, Daniela Barcellona, Freddie De Tommaso. (I assume Freddie and Roberto are in different casts.) If I had a choice between the original cast (whom I’ve seen) and the new cast (whom I’ve also seen), I would pick the new cast. At least this time Kaufmann has given plenty of advance notice for ticket holders to change plans/tickets or for those who haven’t yet bought tickets to know who they will actually get.
Well, I bought my ticket and…here I am. I paid to ROH in 22 and 23. What can I say? If he cannot sing, then he should retire. I will be listening to Di Tomasso, whom I do not particularly like ,and cnnot buy another ticket for Alagna, whom I like. I am stuck, thank you to Kaufmann once again. Oh, I forgot to mention Tosca in Paris. So many times …one forgets.