by usia review

A Night of Operatic Brilliance

It was a fabulous concert, with the orchestra performing at its very best, producing a rich, polished sound fully comparable to that of the finest European orchestras. The program—featuring music by Richard Strauss and celebrated opera overtures—evoked the festive spirit of the traditional New Year’s Concerts in Vienna, transporting the audience to an atmosphere of elegance and musical splendor.

The undisputed star of the evening was tenor Jonathan Tetelman, whose appearance generated great anticipation and resulted in a sold-out event—despite the presence of some empty seats in the hall. Tetelman proved to be a true revelation.

He opened the recital with Verdi’s aria “Questa o quella”, allowing his lyric tenor voice to gradually warm up before moving on to repertoire more suited to a lyric-spinto tenor, with arias by Mascagni, Bizet, and Donizetti. In “Una furtiva lagrima,” an aria traditionally written for a light lyric tenor, Tetelman surprised with a notably dramatic interpretation, marked by expressive phrasing and emotional depth.

The program continued with works by Giordano, Ponchielli, and Puccini—a composer with whom Tetelman already has recorded albums—followed by the famous zarzuela aria “No puede ser,” often associated with Plácido Domingo.

The concert concluded amid enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation, prompting several encores. Among them, Puccini’s notoriously demanding “Nessun dorma” stood out as a defining moment of the evening. Tetelman delivered spectacular high notes, culminating in a perfectly placed natural B, whose projection and impeccable intonation sent shivers through the entire hall.

At just 36 years old, the Chilean-born tenor—adopted in the United States—shows remarkable promise as a future dramatic tenor, with a timbre that continues to mature naturally and convincingly. Already enjoying a brilliant international career, he has performed in several major European opera houses and is scheduled to appear for the second time at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His artistic trajectory was further recognized with the Opus Klassik Award for “Young Artist of the Year 2023.”

Once again, the foundation is to be congratulated for presenting concerts not only with piano accompaniment, but also with full orchestra and internationally renowned singers—an initiative of undeniable cultural value.

A Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Production

#JonathanTetelman @Gulbenkian © Jorge Carmona / Antena 2

Thanks to: Gulbenkian Music