Jonathan Tetelman

"Tetelman possesses a golden-shimmering timbre, a radiant, open vocal sound, and excellent Italian diction; his high notes sparkle." With this assessment, Gramophone elevated Jonathan Tetelman as one of the ten greatest Puccini interpreters of our time. It is precisely these qualities that quickly made the Chilean-American tenor a celebrated star of the international opera world. His vocal artistry, combined with natural charisma, creates a stage presence that leads him to the most renowned opera houses and concert halls – in title roles ranging from the French classics of Bizet and Massenet to the Italian verismo composers Puccini, Mascagni, and Giordano. Exclusive interviews with Jonathan Tetelman Watch on STAGE+ In October 2021, Jonathan Tetelman signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon and immediately began recording his first DG album with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria and its chief conductor Karel Mark Chichon. Arias, released in August 2022, featured arias by Verdi and verismo, a selection from the lyrical French repertoire, and duets with Lithuanian soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė. For this debut, Tetelman was promptly awarded an OPUS Klassik as Young Artist of the Year 2023. His second album, a tribute to Puccini, was released in September 2023, just in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the composer's death in 2024. The Great Puccini includes both well-known and lesser-known numbers from nine operas, including La bohème, La fanciulla del West, Manon Lescaut, Tosca, and Turandot. The recording was made in Prague with the PKF – Prague Philharmonia and Carlo Rizzi, featuring Vida Miknevičiūtė again, as well as soprano Federica Lombardi. It was awarded the Gramophone Voice & Ensemble Award 2024; the magazine praised Tetelman as "the young Puccini tenor of our time." Tetelman's latest album also joins the Puccini celebrations. He sings one of his signature roles, Cavaradossi in Tosca, alongside Eleonora Buratto in the title role and Ludovic Tézier as Scarpia. The concert performance was recorded at the 2024–25 season opening concert of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Daniel Harding; the album was released in March 2025. Highlights of Tetelman's past seasons include his debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Ruggero in Puccini's La rondine; Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Met, at the Teatro Massimo di Palermo, and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin; his role debut as Luigi in Il trittico, also at the Deutsche Oper Berlin; and the title role in Massenet's Werther in Robert Carsen's new production in Baden-Baden. This season, in addition to his debut with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Tosca, he will make his house debut at the Vienna State Opera as Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana and at the Los Angeles Opera as Pinkerton. His upcoming engagements include appearances as Pinkerton in performances of Madama Butterfly with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko at the Easter Festival Baden-Baden and in the Berlin Philharmonie (April 2025); the title roles in Don Carlo and Werther at the Deutsche Oper Berlin (May/July); opera galas in Munich, Prague, Frankfurt, and Hamburg (June/July); and Cavalleria rusticana at the Bavarian State Opera Munich (July). Jonathan Tetelman was born in Castro, Chile, in 1988. He was adopted at seven months old and grew up with his American parents in Princeton, New Jersey. One of his music teachers there noticed young Jonathan's vocal talent, leading him to receive his first lessons at the American Boychoir School in Princeton. Tetelman earned his bachelor's degree as a baritone at the Manhattan School of Music. He then continued his studies at the Mannes School of Music, where he gradually transitioned to the tenor fach; he later completed this development with his teacher Mark Schnaible, who remains his mentor to this day. While Tetelman awaited the further development of his voice, he earned a living as a DJ in a Manhattan club. When the job lost its appeal, he decided to fully refocus on singing, a decision that ultimately led to competition successes – including a spot in the finals of the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition (2016) and first prize at the New York Lyric Opera Theatre Competition (2017). Professional engagements as a singer followed. Asked how he managed it all, Tetelman replies: "I practically locked myself away for six months. However, I also worked as a waiter to afford several lessons a week, with the support of my family. I listened to old recordings and studied YouTube clips of great performers. I also perfected my technique and vocal control until it was solid, and I learned how to protect my voice. Eventually, I reached my goal and was able to pursue my passion." 3/2025