Around the Music Festival

Star tenor singer Jonas Kaufmann was awarded the Commandeur de la L’ordre national de la légion d’honneur of France. The award was presented by Ambassador Gilles Pécout at the French Embassy in Vienna on January 12.

The “Legion d’honneur” is France’s highest decoration, established by Napoleon Bonaparte. Kaufmann was awarded the Chevalier in 2011, the Officier in 2018, and this time the Comand d’Or above it.

Kaufmann was born in Munich in 1969 and is 54 years old. He studied at the Munich University of Music and Drama and made his professional debut in 1994 at the Saarbrücken State Theatre, and in 2001 he became a resident singer at the Zurich Opera House, where he appeared in numerous operas.

Later, star soprano Angela Gheorghiu nominated the still-unknown Kaufmann for the opposing role, which led to her subsequent international career, including appearances at the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Although a tenor, he has a thick, dark voice reminiscent of a baritone, and his mastery of control over intensity, slow and fast, and phrasing makes him outstanding in his ability to express character, and he is known as one of the best performers of our time. On the other hand, he is known as one of the best performers of our time.

On the other hand, he has a policy of not singing when he is not feeling well due to the experience of having voice trouble when he was young, which has led to many cancellations.

Photo：Olivia Renaud