Belgrade Music Festivities are honored to announce the first appearance of today’s most renowned tenor – Jonas Kaufmann!
A star on the greatest opera stages worldwide, from the Metropolitan Opera to Covent Garden and the Vienna State Opera, Kaufmann will illuminate the stage of the Blue Hall at Sava Center on October 1st at 8 PM, marking the beginning of our most significant classical music festival. Opera enthusiasts and film music lovers alike will enjoy the finest tenor arias and cinematic music hits. Joining Jonas Kaufmann will be conductor Jochen Rieder and the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra.
JONAS KAUFMANN
Jonas Kaufmann, hailed by The Telegraph as the “greatest tenor in the world,” has performed over 70 roles in leading international opera houses. The New York Times has praised his singing as a “blend of masculinity and tenderness,” with “crystal-clear high notes.” His performances are celebrated not only for their exceptional vocal technique but also for the profound impression they leave on audiences. According to Telerama, he approaches each role with such dedication that it feels like he is performing the work for the last time.
In addition to his opera repertoire, Kaufmann is known as one of the greatest interpreters of Lieder today. His performances and recordings have earned numerous awards, including eleven Echo/Opus Classic awards. He has also been named “Singer of the Year” by several classical music magazines, including Opernwelt, Diapason, and Musical America. Kaufmann has been honored with the Order of Arts and Letters in the rank of Knight (Chevalier de l’Ordre de l’Art et des Lettres) and appointed a member of the Bavarian Maximilian Order (Maximiliansorden). In 2022, he received the highest singing honor in Austria, “Kammersänger,” and in 2024, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Ordre de la Légion d’honneur).
In the past season, Kaufmann performed at the Bavarian State Opera, Vienna State Opera, Zurich Opera, La Scala, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, and the Royal Opera in London. He also made his long-awaited debut as Tannhäuser at the Salzburg Easter Festival and celebrated the festival’s centenary with a concert at the Arena di Verona alongside Sonya Yoncheva and Ludovic Tézier.
For the start of the new season, Kaufmann performed the first act of Wagner’s Die Walküre with the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko, followed by a series of concerts (“The Sound of Movies”) in Baden-Baden, Prague, Naples, and Munich. He has also performed Jokonda at the Salzburg Easter Festival and the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, as well as Aida at the Bavarian State Opera and Andrea Chénier at the Royal Opera in London. Upcoming performances include open-air concerts at the Theater im Park in Vienna and the Kurpark in Wiesbaden, as well as the second act of Tristan und Isolde in Gstaad and Baden-Baden.
Kaufmann is renowned for his performances of French, German, and Italian opera repertoires, as well as his concert work. Among his most notable roles are Don José, Werther, Don Carlo, Otello, Andrea Chénier, Maurizio, Lohengrin, Parsifal, and Florestan, performed in houses such as La Scala, Covent Garden, Bavarian State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Zurich Opera, Paris Opera, and Vienna State Opera.
Born in Munich, Jonas Kaufmann completed his vocal studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. He also attended masterclasses with Hans Hotter, James King, and Josef Metternich. During his early years at the Saarbrücken State Theater, he continued his training with Michael Rhodes in Trier.
JOCHEN RIEDER
German conductor Jochen Rieder is a regular guest at leading global opera houses and concert halls, including La Scala, Carnegie Hall, and the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, and collaborates with today’s most prominent soloists and orchestras. He is particularly known for his interpretations of German and Italian opera repertoires, with his performances and recordings receiving widespread critical acclaim.
Over the years, Rieder has established an intense musical collaboration and professional friendship with tenor Jonas Kaufmann. They have performed together in venues worldwide, including the Royal Festival Hall and Barbican Centre in London, Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Baden-Baden Festival Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Arts Center in Seoul, Sydney Opera House, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie, and Arena di Verona, among many others. In addition to concert performances, Kaufmann and Rieder have recorded several CDs and DVDs for SONY, which have received the Echo Classic and Opus Classic awards.
Rieder performs with many renowned orchestras, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Residentie Orchestra The Hague, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Recent performances include concerts with soprano Aida Garifullina in Vienna, Prague, and Moscow.
VOJVOĐINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Formed in February 2011 as the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra, continuing the work of the Vojvodina Symphony, this respected ensemble is known for its high interpretative level on the domestic art scene. It has successfully performed over seventy premiere programs with internationally acclaimed conductors and a large number of attractive soloists, including Mischa Maisky, Nemanja Radulović, Ivo Pogorelić, Stefan Milenković, and the “Janoska” ensemble.
In the 2021/2022 season, the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra had its first chief conductor, Aleksandar Marković, an esteemed artist of international career who held the position until June 2023. During this time, the orchestra performed Verdi’s Requiem in collaboration with the Opera Chorus of SNP and an international quartet of soloists.
Marković’s interpretation of Mahler’s Second Symphony was also highly successful. In September 2022, the orchestra collaborated with Julian Rachlin, one of the most renowned violinists of our time. This collaboration continued in the 2023/24 concert season with a successful performance at the opening of the 43rd Novi Sad Music Fest with pianist Ivo Pogorelić in October 2023 and again in March 2024 in Belgrade.
The ensemble continues to achieve success this season, collaborating with renowned conductors and soloists, including a recent New Year’s Gala concert conducted by maestro Gabriel Bebesel and featuring celebrated violinist Maxim Vengerov.
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