Jonas Kaufmann Bio (440 words, May 2023)
Hailed as “the world’s greatest tenor” by The Telegraph, Jonas Kaufmann has performed over 70 roles in the world’s leading opera houses. The New York Times has described him as having “clarion top notes, the blend of virility and tenderness in his singing,” and praised his “refined musicianship.” Not only a great vocal technician, his performances are also praised for their dramatic impact, “He embodies each role with such an investment that he makes the viewer think that this is the last time he will perform this work.” (Telerama). One of today’s greatest interpreters of Lieder repertoire, Kaufmann is also in very high demand in concert. His performances and recording have earned him multiple honors and awards including eleven ECHO/OPUS Klassik awards, “Singer of the Year” from multiple classical music magazines including Opernwelt, Diapason and Musical America, has been knighted as a “Chevalier de l’Ordre de l’Art et des Lettres,” and has been named a member of the Bayerischer Maximiliansorden.
His 2022/23 season includes the title role in Peter Grimes and Dick Johnson in La Fanciulla del West at the Bayerische Staatsoper, the title role in Andrea Chenier at the Wiener Staatsoper and Teatro alla Scala, Cavaradossi in Tosca at the Opernhaus Zürich, Radames in Aida at the Wiener Staatsoper, his role debut as Tannhäuser at the Salzburger Osterfestspiele, Siegmund in Die Walküre at the Teatro San Carlo and the title role in Werther at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. On the concert stage, he performs several recitals at festivals and venues around the world. His latest album with Sony Classical Insieme, released in October 2022, includes a selection of duets with Ludovic Tézier.
A voice which excels in a large variety of repertoire, Kaufmann has received recognition for his performance of French, German and Italian roles, as well as his performance in recital. Standout roles include Don José, Werther, Don Carlo, Otello, Andrea Chenier, Maurizio, Lohengrin, Parsifal and Florestan, which he has performed at houses such as Teatro alla Scala, Covent Garden, the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Opéra national de Paris, and the Wiener Staatsoper. He has released multiple recordings, also encompassing diverse repertoire, including operatic repertoire, Lieder, operetta, and more.
A native of Munich, Germany, Jonas Kaufmann completed his vocal studies there at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, in addition to which he attended master classes with Hans Hotter, James King and Josef Metternich. During his first years on stage at the State Theatre in Saarbrücken he continued his training with Michael Rhodes in Trier.