New Champions League theme version

The UEFA Champions League Final opening ceremony at the Fußball Arena München tonight will feature singer Jonas Kaufmann performing a new version of the official UEFA Champions League theme.

This version was written specially for the event by Matt Clifford. Kaufmann will be lip-synching to a pre-recorded vocal performance because of a medical condition. The UEFA Champions League theme has been incorporated into a new piece which reflects both the host city and the European nature of the competition.

Kaufmann, a local man brought up in the Bogenhausen area of Munich, is being joined for the ceremony by another virtuoso, Aachen-born violinist David Garrett. Kaufmann is a keen FC Bayern München fan. Due to his medical condition, he is unable to sing live, but he is happy to make his contribution by lip-synching to his pre-recorded tape.

The thousands of fans in the stadium plus millions watching all over the world on TV will therefore still be able to hear the marvellous voice that has graced several successful albums, as well as in leading roles in works such as Carmen, Tosca and Lohengrin.

The UEFA Champions League theme, written by British composer Tony Britten, has given the competition a memorable aural identity since 1992.