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Jonas Kaufmann

Kirsty Young interviews opera singer Jonas Kaufmann.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the tenor, Jonas Kaufmann.

Frequently referred to as one of the greatest singers of his generation, both his parents fled East Germany for Munich between the end of the war and the Berlin wall being erected. Jonas was brought up singing in choirs, playing the piano and listening to a range of classical music. When he was seven, he was enthralled by seeing his first opera - Madam Butterfly. He studied Maths at university, but soon changed to music and quickly started getting professional singing work.

Since then he has taken on many of the great roles for tenors, at opera houses around the world - Don Carlo, Don José (Carmen), Alfredo (La Traviata), and Cavaradossi (Tosca). He is also known as a singer of 'Lieder' & renowned not only for the beauty of his voice but for his musical range.

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Feb 2015 09:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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Clips

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Music Played

  • Johann Strauss II

    The Overture to Die Fledermaus

    Performer: Vienna Philharmonic. Performer: Carlos Kleiber.
    • New YearÂ’s Concert 1989.
    • CBS.

  • Licinio Refice

    Ombra Di Nube

    Performer: Claudia Muzio.
    • Prima Voce: Muzio.
    • Nimbus records.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    The Goldberg Variations - Aria

    Performer: Glenn Gould.
    • Goldberg Variations.
    • CBS.

  • Richard Wagner

    O glaive promis par mon pere from La Walkyrie

    Performer: Georges Thill. Performer: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. Performer: Eugene Bigot.
    • Georges Thill chante Wagner.
    • Malibran.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Der Abschied from Das Lied von der Erde

    Performer: Philharmonia/New Philharmonia Orchestras. Performer: Christa Ludwig. Performer: Otto Klemperer.
    • The Song of the Earth.
    • EMI.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Müller und der Bach from Die Schöne Müllerin

    Performer: Aksel Schiøtz. Performer: Gerald Moore.
    • The complete Aksel Schiøtz Recordings 1933-1946 Vol 4.
    • Danacord Records.

  • Robert Stolz

    Im Traum hast du mir alles Erlaubt

    Performer: Jonas Kaufmann.
    • You Mean the World to Me.
    • Sony Classical.

  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Agustín Lara

      Granada

      Performer: Fritz Wunderlich. Performer: Münchner Symphoniker. Performer: Hans Carste.
      • The Magic of Fritz Wunderlich.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • BOOK CHOICE

    Das Königsprojekt (the Royal Project ) by Carl Amery

  • LUXURY ITEM

    A coffee machine

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Jonas Kaufmann
Producer Cathy Drysdale

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Feb 2015 11:15
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
  • Fri 27 Feb 2015 09:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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