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FULL JONAS KAUFMANN FESTSPIELINTENDANT ERL 2025 Playlist 20 video clips
Popular Singers in this Opera Recording
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: JONAS KAUFMANN FESTSPIELINTENDANT ERL
- Composer: N/A
- Libretto: N/A
- Venue & Opera Company: Erl, Tirol, Austria
- Recorded: 2024 - 2026
- Type: Other
- Singers: Jonas Kaufmann
- Conductor:
- Orchestra:
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs, desubs, frsubs
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Jonas Kaufmann in the dual role
Since autumn 2024, the sought-after opera and lieder singer Jonas Kaufmann has been the artistic director of the Tyrolean Festival in Erl. He continues to perform internationally as a tenor. As artistic director, he intends to bring his personal touch to the role. After his first summer season, the question arises whether the singer is also suited to the role of artistic director.
The newly appointed artistic director, originally from Bavaria and now living in Salzburg, doesn’t have far to go to Erl, the village near Kufstein. “I wasn’t born an artistic director, but I’m growing into the role,” Kaufmann explains. He’s well aware that every singer’s career eventually comes to an end, and then it’s nice to have another, interesting task. But that’s still a long way off, the popular performer, who is at home on stages around the world, says with a smile.
The white Passion Play Theatre dates from the 1950s, while the black new building adopts the design language of the mountain landscape. 
Singer Jonas Kaufmann was surprised when the offer came from Er A village and two festival halls
Erl has a population of only 1600, but it boasts two extraordinary festival venues nestled in the countryside. The white Passion Play House primarily hosts Wagner operas, except when the villagers, as they do every six years, perform the Passion of Christ.
The black festival hall, opened in 2012, hosts more intimate works by Verdi or Puccini. The sharp-edged forms of the new building are reminiscent of the rocks of the surrounding mountains. Together, the two festival halls offer more seats than the village has inhabitants.
A global star with no fear of contact
Kaufmann says he’s not taking on the role to make everything better in the future. His goal is to reduce any apprehension people might have about attending and to attract local visitors to the festival alongside the international audience. The program includes not only classical music, but also jazz and a silent film with live music.
The nature-loving artistic director has no qualms about interacting with nature, not even the cattle grazing in the meadow in front of the festival hall. Kaufmann spent several summers of his childhood on his grandparents’ farm at Lake Achensee.
Jonas Kaufmann, a native of Bavaria, herded cows as a child at Lake Achensee. Blockbusters and Experimental Films
The program will offer a diverse mix, explains Kaufmann, but it will be of the highest caliber. The contemporary opera “Picture a Day Like This” by British composer George Benjamin is about the search for happiness. German conductor Corinna Niemeyer will lead the Austrian premiere in Erl. She believes this opera is also suitable for teenagers and opera novices. The piece lasts just over an hour, and the singing is in clear, modern English.
A young team is working on the contemporary opera “Picture a Day Like This” by the British composer George Benjamin. The ambitious work has garnered more critical acclaim than audience appreciation. Apparently, not many are willing to make the journey to Erl for this voyage into the unknown. Kaufmann will also be staging a contemporary opera in the summer of 2026, titled “We Are The Lucky Ones.”
Future secured in the long term
Festival president and patron Hans Peter Haselsteiner is backing the artistic director he had hoped for. Over the past twenty years, the Haselsteiner family foundation has invested more than 100 million euros in the buildings and operations of the Tyrolean Festival, says Haselsteiner. The future of the festival, which also receives 1.15 million euros annually in funding from the federal government and the state of Tyrol, is secure, emphasizes the long-time former CEO of STRABAG.
Jonas Kaufmann works together with music director Asher Fisch, patron Hans Peter Haselsteiner and managing director Andreas Leisner. Many new “prototypes”
The Salzburg conductor Gustav Kuhn founded the Tyrolean Festival in 1998. He established Erl primarily as a venue for Wagner operas. His 24-hour production of the complete “Ring of the Nibelung” cycle garnered widespread attention. Following allegations of abuse of power and sexual harassment, Kuhn, who often portrayed himself as the “Erl King,” resigned in 2018.
Bernd Loebe, the director of the Frankfurt Opera, subsequently led the festival. He succeeded in calming the waters. Since autumn 2024, Jonas Kaufmann has been the new “Mr. Erl.” His contract runs until 2030. Kaufmann is taking on a new style and a new team. “Ultimately, we are all together the new Erl kings,” Kaufmann explains. “Hans Peter Haselsteiner, managing director Andreas Leisner, Ilias Tzempetonidis, and music director Asher Fisch are working with me. We are, so to speak, Erl kings for a limited time, because it’s by no means about a monarchy, but about collaboration.”
International stars and new talents
Through his network, Kaufmann is able to engage internationally renowned artists. Ekaterina Gubanova will be performing in Erl for a concert performance of the opera “Die Walküre.” The mezzo-soprano is a regular guest at the Bayreuth Festival.
Mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova and tenor Jonas Kaufmann are preparing for the Wagner opera “Die Walküre”. Opera director is a fan of the crime drama series “Tatort”.
German director Claus Guth, who staged “Salome” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York this spring, is creating an unconventional double bill of operas in Erl. Guth combines “Bluebeard’s Castle” with “La Voix Humaine” to form a grand narrative about murderous love and relationship crises. The director reveals himself to be a fan of the German crime series “Tatort” and directs with psychological insight.
Director Claus Guth reveals himself as a Tatort fan and directs with psychological sensitivity. 
Anna Sofie Tuma’s costumes could have come from the Barbie world. The staging is reminiscent of Hitchcock thrillers. A successful psychological thriller
The acclaimed Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan takes on the lead role in the one-woman show “La Voix Humaine.” She plays a woman on her final phone call with her ex-lover. Her performance is deeply moving. The mysterious lover is neither seen nor heard; the adventures take place in the mind.
Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan delivers an impressive solo performance. 
Director Claus Guth works with singer Barbara Hannigan on her performance in “La Voix Humaine”. 79 percent total occupancy
After his first summer season, Kaufmann is satisfied with an overall occupancy rate of 79 percent. He intends to continue focusing on diversity. The “Ausklang” festival follows in October. The program plays on the contrasts between village and world, which also play a role in Erl.
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