Philippe Jaroussky © Simon Fowler (Ausschnitt)
Philippe Jaroussky
Countertenors have a come long way since Alfred Denner pioneered the voice four generations ago, and in today’s post-gender era, the shimmering brilliance and butterfly-like elegance of the current crop of singers is something that Deller and his contemporaries could only dream of. One of the most versatile, successful and influential of the new countertenor icons – indeed, arguably one of their true »peacocks« – is the 49-year-old Frenchman Philippe Jaroussky. He refuses to be pigeonholed or see himself as merely a continuation of the Baroque art of the high voice: for many years now he has flitted effortlessly between different musical genres. That he has been able to cultivate and sustain such versatility attests not only to his individual qualities as an artist, but also for the modern emancipation of the countertenor voice. In the Wiener Konzerthaus’ new season, you can explore the very many facets of the French star’s incomparable idiom.