Tenor Jonas Kaufmann: 'Mach ma, mach ma, das geht nicht mehr'

Jonas Kaufmann, the renowned tenor, admits that the constant travel required by his profession often pushes him to his limits. He shared his experiences with delays, including a recent journey from Salzburg to Berlin that was significantly impacted by a flight postponement, causing him to miss his planned hotel arrival time.

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I used to plan every arrival down to the wire. And I would get incredibly upset when I just missed a connecting flight or a train. But eventually, I realized that it costs me so much more energy to get upset about it than to take three deep breaths and try to find another connection.

Kaufmann explained his evolving approach to managing travel-related stress. "I used to plan every arrival down to the wire," he recalled. "And I would get incredibly upset when I just missed a connecting flight or a train." However, he has since realized that expending energy on frustration is counterproductive. "If I get worked up every time, nothing gets better," he stated, adding that he has no influence over the reliability of services like Deutsche Bahn.

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If I get worked up every time, nothing gets better. And I have no influence over the quality of Deutsche Bahn. We don't need to wait for something to change for the better there. So, during our lifetime, that's unlikely.

While he no longer meticulously schedules buffer times for his travels, Kaufmann avoids excessive pre-planning that leads to unproductive waiting. He prefers to breathe deeply and find alternative solutions when disruptions occur. "I just don't tear myself apart anymore if I'm late," he said.

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I just don't tear myself apart anymore if I'm late. Of course, I prefer to be on time. But I don't see the point in planning three or four extra hours just to sit around uselessly in airports for three or four hours.

Looking ahead, Kaufmann is consciously adjusting his career trajectory. Despite a full schedule that even his adult children find overwhelming, he plans to reduce his opera performances starting in 2026. This shift allows him to focus more on song recitals, which he finds less draining than full operatic roles, enabling him to better manage his energy and maintain his demanding career.

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I feel that I have to cut back a little, take a small break – or make a better plan for next time. Although: When my grown children see my schedule, they say: 'We're already stressed just reading it. How do you handle that?'