Kaufmann: Wagner

Jonas Kaufmann has continued to develop both his voice and his art over the past few years, and he is now the leading Wagnerian tenor before the public today. That's in addition to his considerable fame in Italian and the general German repertoire. This disc is a tribute to Richard Wagner in the 200th anniversary year of his birth, and Kaufmann has chosen arias and songs that showcase not only his own talent but the diversity of inspiration of the composer. His voice has a burnished golden quality, even throughout the range, with scrupulous phrasing and a secure ringing top. On this evidence he is a Wagner tenor of the very highest quality, fit to stand comparison with the great tenors of the past, including Wolfgang Windgassen and the legendary Lauritz Melchior. There can be no higher praise. deccaclassics.com