Just in time for Christmas, local opera buffs have been sent into a frenzy with the announcement that German superstar Jonas Kaufmann will perform in his first fully staged opera in Australia next year.
The Munich-born tenor with the smouldering voice and matinee-idol looks will sing the title role of Wagner's Lohengrin at the Arts Centre Melbourne from May 14 to 24.
While the production forms part of several packages, individual tickets to Lohengrin's four performances are available.
Given Kaufmann's pulling power, that will not be the case for long.
Kaufmann made his role debut in Lohengrin at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich in 2009, and has since performed it at the Bayreuth Festival in Germany, La Scala in Milan and the Paris Opera.
A new co-production between Opera Australia and Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Lohengrin is directed by Olivier Py, who has set Wagner's Romantic fantasy - first performed in 1850 - in bombed-out Berlin following the Second World War.
"It's a tremendous thrill that the greatest tenor alive is coming to Melbourne to perform in his first opera in Australia, and singing arguably one of his finest roles," Opera Australia's artistic director Lyndon Terracini said.
"After all we've been through these past two years, it will be such a treat for audiences to see Jonas live on stage, singing the title role in Olivier Py's fantastic new production of Lohengrin," he said.
"It's really terrific that Jonas continues such a positive relationship with Opera Australia."
Opera Australia has brought Kaufmann to Australia three times already.
He gave a series of concert recitals in 2014 and sang in concert performances of Wagner's Parsifal in 2017 and Giordano's Andrea Chenier in 2019.
Lohengrin will be the first fully staged opera he has performed in this country.
Kaufmann will be joined by a cast that includes Emily Magee, Elena Gabouri, Marco Vratogna and Australians Daniel Sumegi and Warwick Fyfe.
Opera Australia's head of music Tahu Matheson will conduct.
Since winning his first (of six, and counting) Gramophone awards in 2007, Kaufmann has electrified the world of opera and Lieder with the deeply affecting power of his voice, not to mention his flawless technique and acting chops.
The photogenic singer has been awarded everything from GQ Man of the Year (in the classical music category) in 2009 to an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 2018, an advance on the Chevalier he received in 2011.
opera.org.au
Australian Associated Press
