The man described as the ‘hottest tenor’, Jonas Kaufmann has arrived in Sydney for his Australian tour, and he's hoping to bring opera to new audiences.
Lyndon Terracini from Opera Australia says Kaufmann has a voice to rival Pavarotti.
"How good is Jonas Kauffman? Well he's the best. He's one of the most extraordinary singers in the world at the moment, and one of the greatest singers that's ever lived,” he said.
Terracini says Kaufmann brings something special, which they hope will attract a non-traditional opera audience.
“It’s something that you can’t really describe, or put your finger on it, but you know when someone has it. And when Jonas comes into a room - you feel it. And when he walks on stage you actually feel as though he’s singing directly to you.”
Kaufmann is fluent in four languages and sings in English, French, German and Italian.
“Music itself is an international language,” he said. “You will know, even if you don't understand a word of the language."
"If you have truthful emotions that match with the words and then on top that, the compliment of the orchestra, you will feel what this person is feeling."
He's worked with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra.
But despite being touted as the greatest operatic voice of our century, Kaufmann is not getting carried away.
“I'm of course flattered when I hear things like that. But the moment I say, ‘yes, I've made it’, I'm probably minutes before I'm going down."
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