Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death has provided an opportunity for Jonas Kaufmann to revisit the composer’s operas. Nearly a decade ago he made a recital disc entitled Nessun dorma, mostly of the tenor arias, and now he returns with a programme of mostly duets.It cannot be said that the voice has avoided the wear of the passing years, as the earlier recording sounds vocally firm in a way this is not, but after the illness and cancellations of the past few seasons it is good to hear Kaufmann sounding recognisably like himself.An extra attraction is that each of the operas finds Kaufmann paired with a different soprano. Six of the top names on the operatic circuit have been invited along. It is good to welcome Maria Agresta as an authentically Italian Madam Butterfly, and Malin Byström’s voice records well in La fanciulla del West, where she and Kaufmann make a splendid coupling in the heartfelt first meeting between Minnie, the “girl of the golden West”, and an outlaw on the run.The act one duet from La bohème goes better on the earlier disc, as neither Kaufmann nor Pretty Yende’s Mimì sounds totally fresh. Sonya Yoncheva fields her glamorous soprano as Tosca, though she sounds strained at the top, and Kaufmann is arguably in his finest Puccini role there. Asmik Grigorian encourages him to high drama in Il tabarro. None, though, match Anna Netrebko for no-holds-barred passion in Manon Lescaut. Asher Fisch conducts the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna and Kaufmann adds arias from La bohème and Tosca as welcome encores.★★★★☆‘Puccini: Love Affairs’ is released by Sony Classical
