Jonathan Tetelman in "La Rondine."
Tenor Jonathan Tetelman, a Castro, Chile native, stars as Ruggero in The Metropolitan Opera’s La Rondine, streaming Live in HD to cinemas around the world on Saturday, April 20th at 12:55pm ET.
This Puccini opera marks Jonathan’s Met Opera debut, but he’s already getting a second hit by starring in Madame Butterfly as Pinkerton.
Raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Jonathan attended Princeton’s American Boychoir School, the Manhattan School of Music for his undergraduate degree, followed by the Mannes School of Music in the graduate performance studies program. Jonathan took a pause from opera to DJ in Manhattan night clubs for three years before launching his opera career.
I interviewed the up-and-coming singer about his favorite spots in New York, his love of opera and travel.
My favorite opera that's not my own is:
It was always my dream as a young opera singer to perform the role of Figaro in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia. The plot is wonderful, the music is virtuosic, and the characters are intoxicating. Perhaps Figaro will appear in the far away future, but for now, I will enjoy him through my talented baritone colleagues.
My pre-performance ritual:
I sleep in and try not to talk all day. I have a BIG lunch and a quick active workout with a lot of stretching. I then take power nap, followed by a slow one-hour warm up, find a bent nail for luck, and then… SHOWTIME!
After a performance, I:
Never do the same thing twice, except…have a big late dinner with a nice bottle of wine.
My favorite kind of operagoer (does what):
Knows the plot ahead of time, cheers on the talent, and spreads the word around town.
My role model in business is:
Plácido Domingo is certainly one of my go-to opera business role models as well as an artistic role model. He is perhaps the most accomplished modern opera singer and music businessman in the world.
The best piece of career advice I've gotten is:
“Never allow your ambitions to surpass your abilities.”
Get the most out of an opera by:
Really putting an effort into your appearance as it's always a wonderful opportunity to dress up and be bold. Also, absolutely read some sort of plot synopsis or better yet, a translated libretto to understand the dramatic elements of the piece. This certainly helps with keeping your eyes off the subtitles and your ears attuned to the singers and musicians. Finally, never feel like you shouldn't engage in applause at any moment in the Opera. If you like something, let it be heard!
The restaurant I love most near the MET is:
Fiorello’s — the best food, the best service, and the best clientele.
The morning after a big performance, I:
Take my time, enjoy my day, and spend it with my family. No matter how the night went beforehand, I always claim the prize the next day.
My preferred way to destress is to:
Long hot bath, massage, and I always remind myself that I get another shot tomorrow no matter the outcome of today.
The destination I love to travel to most for work is:
New York, NY. The best city in the world.
My favorite spot in New York is:
Lincoln Center. It is my favorite spot and the most important place for me.
