NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Tetelman transformed from a nightclub DJ to an international opera star, a music detour that was quite, well, operatic.
He stopped singing in 2011 and mixed music for New York's clubbers at Webster Hall, Pacha, Greenhouse and W.i.P. These days, the 35-year-old’s gigs are at posher places such as London’s Royal Opera House and the Salzburg Festival.
His career revived by a transition to tenor from baritone, Tetelman will be featured as Ruggero in a Metropolitan Opera performance of Puccini’s “La Rondine (The Swallow)” with soprano Angel Blue, televised live to theaters worldwide Saturday. Starting April 26, he sings Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly” opposite soprano Asmik Grigorian in her Met debut.
“I kept saying to people, ‘You know, I’m a DJ, but I’m actually an opera singer.' And the more I said it, the more I was like: ’Am I really an opera singer?'” Tetelman recalled of his singing sabbatical.
So he gave himself six months.
“I just sold everything. I sold all my equipment. All my speakers, all my turntables — everything — and just focused,” he said.
Born in Chile, Tetelman was adopted at about 7 months and grew up in Hopewell Township, New Jersey. He got a degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2011 and considered himself a baritone.
Tetelman moved on to the Mannes School of Music for a graduate program where he was told his upper register was his future but struggled with even audition standards. Overcome with frustration, he headed to the downtown nightlife scene in 2013.
“It just wasn’t — it wasn’t clicking. I threw it all away,” he said.
After concluding that club life wasn’t a future, Tetelman began listening to recordings of Luciano Pavarotti, Enrico Caruso, Franco Corelli and Jonas Kaufmann to understand how they used their voices. Working with Mark Schnaible and Patricia McCaffrey, a husband-and-wife vocal coach team, he began building his tenor technique in 2015.
“This young man is wildly talented,” Schnaible said.
By his mid-20s, Tetelman thought himself too old for professional training programs, so he found an agent. He sang Eisenstein in Johann Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus (The Bat)” at the Martina Arroyo Foundation’s young artists program in 2016. He then paid a few hundred dollars to attend an open call casting audition. That led to the role of Rodolfo in Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Fujian Grand Theatre in China in 2017.
He was hired for “Bohème” in November 2018 at the English National Opera, where all performances are in English.
Tetelman prepared by singing in “La Boheme Warhola” — an adaptation of the classic that shifts to Andy Warhol’s The Factory studio — with Pittsburgh Festival Opera at the Falk Auditorium, a 360-seat school theater. Around the same time, agent Alan Green arranged for Tetelman to take over Rodolfo for a concert performance at the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Festival after Piotr Beczała withdrew to replace Roberto Alagna at the Bayreuth Festival’s “Lohengrin.”
That raised Tetelman’s profile before he headed to the London Coliseum for the revival of Jonathan Miller’s 2009 staging, a key accelerant of his career.
"The production and the theater are wonderful. ‘La Bohème’ in English is disgusting,” Tetelman recalled vividly.
A dashing 6-foot-4 with dark hair and a wide smile, he became an in-demand singer for Puccini.
“He has a very solid top. When he sings soft, which I always encourage, especially in the very intimate moments, there’s a tenderness,” conductor Speranza Scappucci said.
On the night of Tetelman’s Met debut on March 26, an audience member tossed a bouquet he caught on the fly.
"He’s certainly a very, very charismatic presence and the audiences are responding,” Met general manager Peter Gelb said.
Tetelman made his Salzburg Festival debut last summer in Krzysztof Warlikowski’s “Macbeth.” The staging opened in an obstetrician’s office with children wearing black and yellow patches warning of radiation.
“You had to be on like mushrooms or something to really understand it,” Tetelman said, quickly adding, “It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. ... I think working with him was actually a really inspiring moment for me.”
Future roles include Turiddu in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and a title role in Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” along with the heavier Puccini parts of Dick Johnson in “La Fanciulla del West (Girl of the Golden West)” and des Grieux in “Manon Lescaut.” He’d like to take on Strauss’ Apollo in “Daphne” and Bacchus in “Ariadne auf Naxos" one day.
“I’m trying to book actually less and less Puccini just because I’ve booked so much,” Tetelman said.
In this image provided by the Met Opera, Jonathan Tetelman portrays Ruggero in Puccini's "La Rondine." Tetelman has transformed from nightclub DJ to international opera star. (Karen Almond/Met Opera via AP)
In this image provided by the Met Opera, Jonathan Tetelman portrays Ruggero in Puccini's "La Rondine." Tetelman has transformed from nightclub DJ to international opera star. (Karen Almond/Met Opera via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander scored twice, Joseph Woll made 22 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night to force a seventh game in the first-round Eastern Conference series.
Toronto has overcame a 3-1 series deficit, also staving off elimination with a 2-1 victory in overtime in Boston on Tuesday night, to send the series back to Boston for a winner-take-all finale Saturday night. The series winner will face the Florida Panthers.
Morgan Rielly assisted on both goals.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for the Bruins, who also blew a 3-1 lead against the Florida Panthers last year in the first round before losing in Game 7 following a record-setting regular season. Morgan Geekie spoiled Woll’s shutout bid with 0.1 seconds left.
Toronto was without Auston Matthews for the second straight game after the star center was pulled from Game 4 because of an illness.
Nylander opened the scoring with 54.8 seconds left in the second period. The Swedish winger took a pass from Timothy Liljegren in the offensive zone before weaving away from his check and firing a shot that glanced off Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy in front and beat Swayman on the short-side.
The goal set off wild celebrations inside an electric Scotiabank Arena — and outside the rink as Maple Leaf Square turned into a mosh pit of blue and white.
Toronto made it 2-0 with 2:13 left in the game when Nylander moved in alone after taking a pass from Matthew Knies and slid a backhander between Swayman’s pads.
Woll is the first goalie in NHL history to have each of his first four career playoff starts come in elimination games. Thatcher Demko (2020), Michael Hutchinson (2020) and Manny Fernandez (2003) are the only other netminders to have their first three starts come in win-or-go home contests.
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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) makes a save as Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) and Charlie Coyle (13) look for a rebound during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender Joseph Woll (60) makes a save against Boston Bruins' Charlie Coyle (13) as Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) defends and Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) and Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly (44) look on during the third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Bruins' Morgan Geekie (39) falls as he battles for the puck with Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) as Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe (22) and Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) look on during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) scores against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe (22) checks Boston Bruins' Jesper Boqvist (70) during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The puck sails wide of the net as Boston Bruins' Pavel Zacha (18) screens Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during first-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe, left, is stopped by Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) trips Boston Bruins' John Beecher, left, as Maple Leafs' Ilya Lyubushkin (46) defends during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) makes a save as Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk (74) and Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies (23) battle during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies, left, celebrates after a goal as Boston Bruins' Jesper Boqvist (70) skates by during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) stops Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs players, back left, celebrate after William Nylander's goal as Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, right, looks on during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Boston Bruins with John Tavares (91) and Timothy Liljegren (37) during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) celebrates after a goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Boston Bruins with Joel Edmundson (20) during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender Joseph Woll (60) makes as save as Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) and Charlie Coyle (13) look for a rebound during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Boston Bruins with Joel Edmundson (20) during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) and Matthew Knies (23) celebrate after a goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, top right, as Bruins' Jesper Boqvist (70) looks on during second-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) scores against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Boston Bruins with Morgan Rielly (44), Matthew Knies (23) and Joel Edmundson (20) during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Boston Bruins during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
