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JONATHAN KAUFMAN
TENOR
BIOGRAPHY
Tenor Jonathan Kaufman possess a voice of entrancing power, beauty, and finesse, which he employs with considerable technique and musicianship. Hailed for his portrayal of Pinkerton in Winter Opera St. Louis’ production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, “Tenor Jonathan Kaufman, as Pinkerton, has a voice so grand–even heroic–that there are many times when, lost in the glory of that voice, we quite forget what a cad the Lieutenant is. Superb!” Steve Callahan of Broadway World makes it clear why Kaufman is quickly ascending the ranks as one of the greatest tenors of his generation.
In the current season, Kaufman will make returns to Opera Carolina for their production of Tosca, covering Cavaradossi, and Winter Opera St. Louis as Macduff in Macbeth. Additionally, he makes several débuts including Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera Western Reserve, as a soloist with Western Piedmont Symphony in their Foothills Pops! holiday concert, and will return to Aiken Symphony Orchestra for their Home for the Holidays concert. Future seasons see returns to the roles of Rodolfo in La bohème and Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana as well as role débuts as the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann and Canio in I Pagliacci. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"...reminiscent of Luciano Pavarotti.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Madama Butterfly – “Kaufman, with his girth and great skill at long-held high notes, is reminiscent of Luciano Pavarotti.”
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"...Kaufman was a Malcolm whose singing was worthy of the crown won by his valor.” – Voix-des-Arts
Macbeth – “…Opera Carolina had in Jonathan Kaufman a Malcolm who was anything but a conventional secondo uomo. Kaufman’s lustrous timbre gave Malcolm’s lines in the Act One sextet and finale welcome muscle, and his vocalism in the scene with Macduff in Act Four was fittingly heroic. Ascents above the stave were handled with assurance that echoed the character’s rightful authority. Regaining the power usurped by Macbeth, Kaufman was a Malcolm whose singing was worthy of the crown won by his valor.”
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“…[sung] beautifully and provide[d] solid characterization.” – HEC Media
Madama Butterfly – “…[sung] beautifully and provide[d] solid characterization.” “Jonathan Kaufman embodies Pinkerton’s brashness in the first act and his remorse in the third.”
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"A clear, true tenor voice." – LancasterOnline
The Light in the Piazza – "As for Jonathan Kaufman, he was endearing as the love-struck, unsophisticated Fabrizio singing out his feelings in a clear, true tenor voice."
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“Kaufman’s voice encompassed me and reached my core,..." – Writing Dailey
Found in Translation: A Dramatic Opera Experience – “Kaufman’s voice encompassed me and reached my core, where inspiration and creativity thrive. The sound beckoned me to act, feel, and follow my own passions with deepened commitment.”