Solo opera recitals by Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier have been among the most successful discs of operatic extracts in recent years. Now here they are teaming up for a recital disc of duets from Italian opera.
Neither is Italian, but a combination of vocal excellence and an absence of obvious Italian rivals has allowed each to rise to the top in this repertoire. The quality of singing, especially in terms of musicianship, is outstanding, even when native Italian passion is lacking.
The programme is all Verdi with the exception of Puccini’s La Bohème and Ponchielli’s La Gioconda. The youthful, light touch they bring to the Bohème duet heralds performances with life and detail. The Ponchielli, which they will soon sing together on stage, properly has more punch.
Don Carlos and Les vêpres siciliennes are sung in the original French, which encourages verbal nuance from the French Tézier and a sensitively expressive style from Kaufmann. There is a downside to that sometimes, for example in the first of their three duets from La forza del destino, which is so refined that the red-blooded nature of Verdi’s operas seems to have been forgotten.
By setting the extracts in context, the Don Carlos and Otello duets especially are given the space to create drama and build tension. This is arguably Kaufmann’s most impassioned Otello so far and Antonio Pappano and the Orchestra dell’Accademia nazionale di Santa Cecilia provide a powerful surge of raw Italian energy for him. Overall, a recital of distinction.
★★★★☆
‘Insieme’ is released by Sony Classical
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