Jonas Kaufmann has been honored as an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by Thomas Vautraver, director of the director of l’Institut Français of Munich in the name of the Republic of France. The tenor was honored on June 19, 2018.

Kaufmann was given the basic level of l’ordre des Arts et Lettres, the Chevalier, in 2011 and this honor has upgraded him to the second tier. He can be upgraded to the status of “Commandeur” at a later date.

Kaufmann is not only of the greatest tenors on the planet, but he is also a renowned exponent of the French repertoire, which he has stated is “the most beautiful. I’ve never seen anything more romantic or attractive than French opera,” he stated. 

Kaufmann is currently working on a production of “Parsifal” in Munich alongside René Pape, Nina Stemme, and Wolfgang Koch. It is a role that he has dominated over the past few years and the production is one of the most hotly anticipated of the summer months. 

Kaufmann is also scheduled for a production of “Die Walküre” in Munich as well as a return to the Metropolitan Opera this fall in a production of “La Fanciulla del West,”  among other productions.