Jonas Kaufmann's New Verdi Album Announced; German Tenor Begins New Contract With Sony Classical

Sony Classical has officially announced Jonas Kaufmann's new CD.

The company announced the German tenor's Verdi album which will include works by the composer's operas "Otello," "Il Trovatore," "Rigoletto," "Luisa Miller," "Aida," and "Don Carlo."

The announcement came as a surprise as the company announced that Kaufmann had signed a new contract with Sony to record for the label. Kaufmann had previously recorded several albums for Decca Classics including his most recent CD 'Wagner." The company has not mentioned why Kaufmann changed labels and has not stated whether there will be a joint contract or whether Kaufmann's previous deal expired.

Kaufmann is one of the most sought-after tenors in the world. He will make his role debut as Manrico in "Il Trovatore" in July at the Bayericshe State Opera and later sing a new production of "Don Carlo" at the Salzburg Festival. He will also make his role debut as Dick Johnson in Puccini's "La Fanciulla del West" and his role debut as Don Alvaro in "La Forza del Destino" this season. The German tenor also returns to the Metropolitan Opera for performances of Massanet's "Werther" with Elina Garanca.  

The tenor has two other releases coming soon including a performance of the Verdi Requiem on DVD and CD through Decca and a DVD of Wagner's "Parsifal" from the Met Opera through Sony.

Sony Classical has recently acquired a number of opera singers. They recently signed legendary singer Placido Domingo as well as Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo. The company also has contracts with Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze and Russian coloratura Olga Peretyatko.

The Verdi Album was recorded at the Auditorium Niccolò Paganini in Parma, with Pier Giorgio Morandi conducting the Orchestra dell'Opera di Parma.The CD is scheduled for release in September.