Tenor Tetelman

Jonathan Tetelman

May 21 at the Auditorium Enrico Caruso

Gran Teatro Giacomo Puccini

Torre Del Lago Puccini

Tuscany

Italy

Conductor: Steven Mercurio.

Image: Puccini Festival Theatre

Experiencing another sublime performance by tenor Jonathan Tetelman, it struck me as almost other-worldly. Presented at the beautiful Puccini Festival Theatre, in the Enrico Caruso Auditorium, with the Puccini Villa close by, added to the splendour of the evening. I have been lucky to experience some of the greatest artists perform Puccini’s arias, including Pavarotti, Bocceli and Domingo, but for me Tetelman has an extra dimension that he brings to each aria; as if he has been able to travel back in time over a century, and be coached by the maestro Puccini himself.

In the moments before Tetelman sings, his eyes close briefly, and with an almost imperceptible sigh of a whispered breath, his body then seems to transform as he embodies the character of Cavarodossi or Prince Calaf, or the many other characters his repertoire includes – and their arias he brings life to so magnificently.

When he sings, that beautiful God-given voice, touches parts of your soul that no music has ever reached before. It is as if he connects directly with the spirit of the great Puccini, and the soul of the aria’s character – it transcends time for a moment, and his audience is drawn in as he creates a divine moment of connection between himself, the composer, the orchestra, and the enraptured audience caught in his spell. The exemplary Puccini Festival Orchestra, under the steady baton of Steven Mercurio, only enhanced the magic.

There was only one star shining that night, and it was the most magnificent, thrilling and magical experience to behold. For peerless quality, Tetelman is the greatest exponent of Puccini’s genius. Bravo!

David Slattery-Christy

Image: Puccini Festival Theatre