Kristjan Johannsson Excels in Vienna Otello, Joins Recordings Pact

Another outstanding success of both audience and critics for the great tenor Kristjan Johannsson. The acclaim, which also led to an immediate contract for the next two years, occurred recently at the Staatsoper in Vienna, where Johannsson performed Verdi’s Otello, one of his “strong” and “difficult” roles within his extensive repertoire of over 66 operas.

Four performances between March and April, all with the same result: “sold out.” In the 2000 season lineup, the tenor, a Gardesana adoptee, also included other operas such as La Gioconda (Ponchielli), Aida (Verdi), Madama Butterfly (Puccini), and Verdi’s Messa da Requiem.

Diverse Verdi roles, especially considering that next year will be dedicated to our great and inimitable composer: Giuseppe Verdi. Besides numerous lyrical appointments in the world’s leading theaters, Johannsson has recently also focused on recordings and discography.

He has recently signed a contract with the Dutch record label “AC Classic”, which will see him committed over the next five years to a series of recordings, averaging 2-4 per year. The Otello recording is already scheduled, to be made next September in Budapest with the Budapest National Orchestra.

In October, following last year’s success, he will make a grand return to Cairo for Aida, while in November Johannsson will bring Otello to Miami.

In a few days, after a well-deserved rest at his villa in Barcuzzi di Lonato, Kristjan Johannsson will be back in Berlin, where he already performed four shows, to present Gioconda again.

A busy schedule of appointments, most of which take place abroad and in some of the world’s major capitals.

“In Italy – Johannsson states with a certain regret – there is unfortunately a lot of uncertainty, making it difficult to plan long- and medium-term lyric seasons. Here, events are usually organized very late, with very little time before the scheduled date.

Often, with only a few weeks available for preparation.”

Currently, there are not many dates scheduled for opera or lyric concert performances in Italy.

The closest is on May 20 at Franciacorta at the Cantina Fratta, for an evening with charitable purposes, and a summer concert at the Vittoriale.

“We hope that this time it will be possible to hold it in the open-air theater, so that many people can attend.”

Engagements are therefore full and already scheduled for the next three years, such as next spring’s (March/April) performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington with Samson and Delilah.