Interview with the star tenor

Jonas Kaufmann: “I’m the gummy bear type”

007 Jonas Kaufmann - the tenor also cuts a fine figure as a movie hero

(Bild: Gregor Hohenberg)

With his latest album "The Sound of Movies", the German opera singer is now also conquering the world of cinema. We asked him about his passion for movies.

Fortunately, Jonas Kaufmann never says "Shut up!". Even if he sings many hits from great films on his latest album "The Sound of Movies". From the Mario Lanza hit from "The Great Caruso" to "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and many more.

Are you a movie buff?
I spent a lot of time at the movies when I was traveling for many years. But I admit, like many others, I often don't have time to see the latest movies in the theater. Then I wait until they are available on one of the many streaming services.

Jonas Kaufmann in the footsteps of Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain"

(Bild: @gregorhohenberg)

At home, we have a huge screen with a surround system where you can generate that movie theater feeling. Especially since we have a young son, going to the movies is of course a great luxury. It's a nice way to wait until our son has fallen asleep and then we watch a movie.

What makes the real movie experience?
There's nothing quite like watching something in a group. I have four big children and when we go to the movies in Munich, we do it with the whole team, of course. It's similar to going to the opera. I have a completely different experience when I watch it with a few hundred people. To feel what the others feel, that you are happy together, suffer together, enjoy together. It's the same at the movies.

Have you seen all the movies from which you sing songs on the CD?
I've seen them all. But I admit that I didn't know them all. One of them, "The Mission", I stopped in the middle, I found it too bizarre. But I caught up on the others.

There are of course many films that you like, that have made film history, but that don't have the insane melodies that you absolutely have to sing.

Jonas Kaufmann "The Sound of Movies"

(Bild: @gregorhohenberg)

Jonas Kaufmann "The Sound of Movies"

(Bild: @gregorhohenberg)

Jonas Kaufmann "The Sound of Movies"

(Bild: @gregorhohenberg)

But "La Boum" is included?
Of course! That has influenced many. Me too. I was suddenly in love with it. All these feelings that you experience in it were madness for an adolescent who is not yet aware of them.

Pop songs, operetta, dolce vita, Christmas etc. You've actually already covered quite a lot of ground. How do you find the themes for your CDs?
Together with my wife and my media consultant and friend Thomas Voigt, we brainstorm about this and that. But sometimes we stumble across a title that gives us an idea and we see what we can put together.

There could be a second variation on all the previous themes. We also had to make radical cuts to Sound of Movies because there were so many possible titles.

Jonas Kaufmann: It has to be popcorn at the movies!

(Bild: @gregorhohenberg)

Cd cover "The Sound of Movies"

(Bild: Sony Classical)

How up-to-date is the CD medium anyway? I know many people who no longer own a player.
Of course, you could just release the album virtually. But then I would be offending everyone who still listens in the traditional audiophile way. Of course I can stream at the highest level with high resolution. But the old media are not dead. Even "Sound of Movies" was released on LP because there are many people who like to put it on their record player. It's a completely different feeling to listen to music than simply pressing your cell phone wherever you are. You have to record it one way or another and then you can release it in all formats.

One last question: popcorn or gummy bears?
I'm generally the gummy bear type. But I would never take gummy bears to the movies, only a full popcorn bag.