Hailed as the greatest tenor of our time, Jonas Kaufmann returns to Sydney this month to make his Australian operatic debut for Opera Australia, performing the title role in a concert presentation of Wagner’s Parsifal.
The multi-award-winning tenor, described by The Guardian as ‘the man with the golden voice and golden smile’ will take on the incredibly challenging lead role of Parsifal, performing three concerts in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini is thrilled to be able to present Jonas Kaufmann singing his finest role to date. “This is the big attraction of the year. I love the piece, it’s one of my favourite operas and having Jonas singing, it will be more like a religious experience than going to the opera,” said Terracini.
“Parsifal is a remarkable work – it’s the music, it’s philosophically what the piece is saying – fundamentally the music takes you to another place. It’s unbelievably beautiful music. You sit there and genuinely feel that you are transported and it’s an amazing thing. Everyone should see and hear Parsifal at least once in their life. Everyone.”
The power and majesty of Wagner’s music needs massive orchestral forces. Under the guidance of conductor Pinchas Steinberg, the Opera Australia Orchestra will be released from the confines of the orchestra pit and will take to the stage, adding even more impact to what will already be an extraordinary concert performance. In a story drawn from the Arthurian legends of holy relics, enchanted maidens and faithful knights, whose fate rests on the shoulders of a pure fool, Parsifal.
Kaufmann describes the opera as a “transcendent journey led by the music. Wagner takes your hand and leads you into this mysterious world, and you stay there for hours but you don’t realise the time has gone by. Lean back, give in to the music, and something extraordinary can happen,” says Kaufmann.
An incredible all-star cast will bring this concert production to life including international superstars Michelle DeYoung and Kwangchul Youn, along with Australia’s finest singers, Michael Honeyman, Warwick Fyfe, Stacey Alleaume Jane Ede, Anna Dowsley, Eva Kong, Julie Lea Goodwin, Anna Yun, Dominica Matthews, Adrian Tamburini, Dean Bassett, David Parkin, Simon Kim and the indefatigable Graeme Macfarlane all performing alongside the Opera Australia Orchestra and Opera Australia Chorus.
Parsifal
Concert Hall – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
Performances: 9, 12 & 14 August 2017
Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Jonas Kaufmann stars in Parsifal – courtesy of Opera Australia