Jonas Kaufmann will play Radamès at the Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2026
On stage for the final performance of Zeffirelli's golden staging of Aida
A star returns. The final performance of Aida of the 103rd Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2026 will see the legendary tenor Jonas Kaufmann return to the epic Arena stage in the role of Radames, the Egyptian general torn between his duty to his homeland and his love for Aida, daughter of the enemy. A unique opportunity to see the ‘King of Tenors’ in the Arena, in one of his most sought-after roles but one which he has only performed on very select occasions: following his studio recording with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, he has given just two concert performances and appeared in staged productions only in Munich, Vienna and Paris. And now, exceptionally, he will tackle this iconic role at the Arena di Verona, where he made his acclaimed debut on stage as Radames four years ago, for one performance only, on 10 September 2026, at 9 pm.
Kaufmann will play the lovestruck leader in the sumptuous staging created by Franco Zeffirelli, where Ancient Egypt becomes a world of gold and precious stones, featuring shifting spaces that alternate between solemn vistas and intimate glimpses, complemented by the precious multicoloured costumes designed by Anna Anni.
He will be joined by an international cast of iconic performers in their respective roles: Maria José Siri, Clémentine Margaine, Alexander Vinogradov, Youngjun Park, Simon Lim, Francesca Maionchi and Riccardo Rados. The Fondazione Arena Orchestra and Chorus (prepared by Roberto Gabbiani) will be conducted by the Venetian maestro Francesco Ommassini.
This special evening will strengthen the bond between Jonas Kaufmann and the Arena di Verona. The Bavarian tenor, always in great demand on the world stage, debuted in the ancient Verona Amphitheatre in 2021 with a triumphant gala that ended with seven encores, before repeating this success in 2023 and again in 2025 in entirely new programmes.
The Arena audience saw him on stage in 2022, again as Radamès for a single performance of Aida, and then in 2024, in the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca, one of the defining roles of his glittering international career. And this bond will continue in 2027: for next year's Festival, an exceptional Jonas Kaufmann in Opera gala has already been announced for 8 August, with brand new repertoires for the Arena's international audience. Tickets are already on sale from www.arena.it, on social channels, at the Arena’s Ticket Offices and from the Vivaticket circuit.
