Jonas Kaufmann explores the riches of 19th-century opera—from Halévy via Bizet and Gounod to Massenet—in a series of beautifully characterized French arias and duets. His French is superb and he assimilates the style and elegance of this music with the imagination you'd expect of an intelligent singer in his prime. Sonya Yoncheva and Ludovic Tézier make impressive guest appearances, not least in the glorious Pearl Fishers duet (“Au fond du temple saint”). A must for Kaufmann fans.