Please do not judge this man on this performance alone.Yes he is not as good as Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma,but listen to a spctrum of his singing.A terrific voice and he will go far.And remember you cannot judge one tenor wiyh another as they all bring something different with their voices JUST ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL VOICE..
no es un tenor de fuerza y las notas largas las acorta....no se ....mejor q se dedique al pop o la balada creo q le hacienta mejor a su rango vocal...mi humilde opinion..aunque su timbre es bien bonito...
For me the best opera singer was Jussi Bjorling, and perhaps because of that I enjoy this young mans voice very much indeed. It's a pleasure to listen to him, and to watch those facial expressions.
I attended the met live-broadcasts for 2010-11. THIS is the voice that amazed and pleased me the most. I appreciate that he does NOT imitate, but rather emulates, the great tenors of the early 20th century who had such excellent technique and timbre. A reminder of Jussi Bjorling, yes !
Fantastic gift for this handsome great diplomat for Malta and our history and our love of Muic. Too bad our National Theatre which had as good a history as La Scalla in Milan was bombed in WWII and is still in ruins. Mr. Callejja makes up for this loss and brings forth the Maltese Spirit and Great Talent God endowed him with. God Bless Him and Keep Him Alive so the world will have Music and not War. He is among the best alive and in the history of Opera.
Calleja has been given a very special gift. There are many who sing well, but few are capable at this level. He is among the elite and very best. He must be considered alongside Pavarotti, caruso,and gigli. his voice control is perfect.
@ballochdubh his voice is still immature....still far off from pavarotti...and anyway he does not like to be compared to other tenors...ahseb u ara singing with them
so proud to be maltese, with our singer he is simply becoming the best in the world, also ppl looct at the wonderful location he is singing, thats mdina :) pls God if i die i wanna get reborn here in Malta
gorgeous voice... wow... lyric tenor roles I can see him perform... don't oversing, Joseph... Calaf is too much. But I can imagine lyric tenor roles for him would be sooo beautifully done by him! I AM NOW A FAN!
I wish he would have held that final vincero, but hey, overall absolutely gorgeous tonality, with such vibrancy, I'd say one of the best tenors in modern days. Gorgeous. 5 stars.
J'adore Calleja. Sa voix me fait penser à Caruso, pour ce que l'on peut en entendre sur de vieux enregistrements. Je pense que le répertoire italien lui convient parfaitement. Je ne vois pas pourquoi il devrait s'abstenir de chanter Calaf. Sa diction laisse un peu à désirer pour le répertoire français mais ce n'est qu'une question de travail. Il lui suffit d'un bon répétiteur.
Incredible vibrato, clear sound, big voice, fantastic control, he already sounds like the old Italian tenors, he is already excellent, so how will better sound?
Heard him today in The Tales of Hoffmann, in the MET. Great performance.
Superb voice - Bright tone but yet more intense than Pavarotti's and yet more lyrical. It's true what they say, he sounds like Caruso! The best tenor voice in a living human being i have heard!
!BRAVO JOSPH CALLEJAS! MUY BUENA VOZ E INTERPRETACIÓN. Siento el final magnifico, toma perfectas las notas altas y llega muy alto. Se nombran 3 grandes tenores pero es sabido que el mejor "Calaf" de todos los tiempos y en todo, es el Gran Maestro F. Corelli, ese es el parametro para mi y Callejas está grandioso. Gracias"seb8791" por este video. espero escuchar y ver más.
If he could work a bit more on his upper range, he would be outstanding -- I do hear quite a bit of Bjoerling in his voice, which is a great thing. And, gotta say, he looks like he really loves to perform.
@mermodfreres He needs to hold the last note for longer, if he's gonna sound like Bjoerling xD Still, a nice voice indeed. Especially in such modern times.
I am too proud of this young talented Maltese tenor. There is a lot of talent on the island but unfortunately it isnt taken seriously as it should and also it lacks exposure too.
He has a gorgeous silvery quality to his voice. He reminds me a lot of Jussi Bjoerling. I agree with those who say the role of Calaf would not be right (for now) but for the aria in its own right this is just sublime!
No one is saying that Calleja sings Calaf or will sing it anytime soon. But in concert it truly works. I agree with you that the voice is not yet the color of the prince but to state that the voice is weak is wrong. I have heard him live MANY times and this is a voice that covers and envelops the MET ORCHESTRA. A voice doesn't get any bigger than that.
His voice is not heavy or dark enough for Calaf, but Calleja's voice is anything but weak. You may need to hear him live to tell, but his voice is absolutely huge for a lyric tenor.
do you know for whom Puccini wrote Calaf and his type of voice? It was for Lauri Volpi who had a very similar voice to Calleja. Subsequent interpretations led this role away from full lyric tenors in favour of the spinto ones.
Point one Puccini did not write Calaf for Lauri-Volpi, the first Calaf was Miguel Fleta. Point two if you think that Calleja's voice is like Lauri-Volpi's your having a problem. Lauri-Volpi had a tenore di forza voice who sang Otello, Manrico, Rodolfo in Luisa Miller, Radames, etc. Corelli, DelMonaco, Tucker roles. Calleja has a lovely light lyric voice with great potential not as a tenore di forza like Lauri-Volpi. Cite, please reference for comment re: Calaf for Lauri-Volpi
You are wrong on both counts :) Puccini did indeed intend Calaf for Lauri Volpi and, if I remember well. it was only an indisposition or unavailability that had Fleta sing the premiere. Lauri Volpi was always known best for his BEL CANTO roles in ugonotti, Puritani, William Tell etc. The Spinto roles came much later.
Jussi1946: A reference please! Puccini actually wanted Gigli at a point in the composition and then he talked to Martinelli about the role. Really Calleja is not Lauri-Volpi and well meaning nonsense like your comment may destroy the thing you admire. Go and view the Lauri-Volpi videos and buy a cd with pre-electric recordings on it. This man was very powerful vocally Calleja is an ant compared to Volpi as was Bjorling. Volpi was singing heavy roles at that time too look it up.
Lauri-Volpi's voice certainly possessed a light lyric quality below the bridging notes, & had nothing of the baritonal colouring & heft of say Corelli or Del Monaco. From Bb up, however, it was absolutely enormous & of heroic proportions. A conductor once remarked that LV was one of the great tenor voices to listen to from the opposite end of Westminster bridge! In 1947 he delivered a high B at the end of Nessun Dorma (unamplified) that the critics said made the Albert Hall windows rattle!
Not quite accurate, diomipoteviscagliar. Lauri-Volpi never suffered any vocal damage whatsoever. He sang Nessun Dorma in score key at a gala aged 80, & la donna e mobile at a concert in his honour aged 85. He did however suffer from a change in his fundamental technique from around 1940 onwards which precipitated the flaws you mentioned. Namely, his chest register was no longer of sufficient tonicity to act as passive anchor to the head register, causing tonal unsteadiness & weak low notes.
I look forward to hearing him as Rodolpho on Dec. 7th, at the San Francisco opera house. His voice is strong yet sweet. Should be a real musical treat.
I´m not even sure where Malta really is but it does not make any difference. The old days of Bjoerling and Flagstad ara back. Hurray for the Swedish-Italian old and eternal technique. I love you Calleja.
I am sure Mr. Calleja would appreciate a compliment from former 3rd class opera singer such as yourself! He surely needed your approval. (Note the sarcasm) And I am sure Mr. Calleja needed learn from you that his lyric voice is not commensurate with a spinto role such as Calaf. I am also sure Mr. Calleja enjoys singing this aria and entertaining his audience (the magnum causa for singing in a recital).
I was writing about Calleja with the authority of a ticket buying audience member. You seem to seize the opportunity of my fulsome praise for his singing just to personally attack me. Odd.
I was not a third rate opera singer. In fact I was something of a star - just not a star in first tier opera companys but rather in third tier companies. I wished I had had more talent but I don't see how that disqualifies me for holding opinions about singers.
I agree with a lot of your comments and you are right also here in stating that Calleja is not yet a Calaf tenor. I write not yet because I have heard him live A LOT of times over the years and witnessed his voice becoming truly huge. Just heard him in a concert with 4 other tenors and I was amazed to how he actually managed to almost cover the 4 other voices in a circus act encore (which i didnt like) of Nessun Dorma. I hope he is wise enough to progress slowly.
I also would invite you to listen to his renditions of the flower song and recondita armonia. Since when did we hear such free, easy singing with glorious top notes? None of his peers in his repertoire.
Although I have heard many other versions of the Nessun dorma aria, I think this one is the best. It reflects both the sadness and the will for revenge.
Joseph Calleja's has a unique voice that fills the soul and the heart. He will soon be one of the top tenors especially that he will be singing with Anna Netrebko within a few weeks.
How great it is to find this guy on youtube! I made a user name just so that I can comment. No idea there was so much classical stuff for free here! A treasure trove.
I'm not going to get all technical like the posters prior to me have done (although I could), but in simple terms:
I think his voice is much sweeter and lyrical than any of the 3 Tenors (especially Domingo) and think this version is one of the nicest I've heard. Operatically powerful, while not forced. Just the right amount of vibrato too.
entire roles which are completely out of their fach. I do enjoy them tremendously by the way but both have developed a harshness in their voice which wasn't there before. We have to wait and see if Calleja will take this premature road as well in the hope that he doesn't. It would be a pity. I am enjoying this exchange so feel free to write privately to me as I think we should take it off here.
Your comments make sense but I think you haven't heard Calleja recently in the theatre. His voice has grown A LOT without losing any of the sweetness or diminuendo ability he had before. I was there for the Butterfly as well (2 performances out of 3) and not once did I hear him push and the voice rang freely. Now that I have heard him as the duke I can confirm that no damage whatsoever was made to the voice. Mentioning Alvarez and Alagna really means nothing. Both of them have sung..
And the fact he now sings Butterfly on stage is confirming what I'm saying: he sings too heavy roles too early! Of course, he was appreciated! He sings well! But Villazon also made successful representations with too heavy roles. Alagna triumphed with Il Trovatore and Aida (except in La Scala...). Di Stefano was applaused for his Calaf or Radames. All of these sounded good - until this kind of roles damages their voice... Success is no criterium for voice health, or for good career choice.
And you do not mention explain why Alvarez and Alagna added lately Turandot to their recitals - I doubt you can say it was because they were unable to sing it...I believe you when you say he was great in Rigoletto. He is probably the best Duca alive. I agree he has no problem vith acute notes; I'm not even criticizing his last B (even if here, he is a bit short). But Florez, or Blake, or who ever you want, also have a wonderful B, and they don't sing Calaf, not even for fun...
Seb, I know Joseph won't sing Calaf in the next years. But the fact is that he seems to be willing to sing heavier roles too quick. As I mentioned, he sings arias of this kind in recitals very early in his career. Some years ago, Villazon could have sung Nessun Dorma without any problem (I remember him singing wondefully La Boheme at Opera Bastille, and the high C was perfect) ; he would have been the same age as Calleja. But he did not, and, as you said, he is not an example of voice health...
Just because he sings Nessun Dorma doesn't mean he wants to add Calaf to his repertoire. Incidentally he did sing Butterfly very successfully recently...
You mention Villazon who unfortunately is "damaged goods." He already labours greatly on a B flat so I would guess that arias with a B natural will be ruled out.
I have just watched a performance of Calleja as the duke at Washington Opera.He was exceptional all round with his high notes perfectly in place.
I understand what you mean, kgus123, but I think that Joseph is too much willing to sing to arias when he is not appearing in a full production. Look for instance at the program of his first CD: he sings Pinkerton from Madama Butterfly and Adriana Lecouvreur! Here Nessun Dorma! Marcelo Alvarez attempted to sing this aria in recitals only recently, same thing for Alagna, and Villazon never did! Don't you think Calleja sings it too early?
This is a hard aria to pull off after Pav...you almost invite every unkind and unfair comparison upon yourself if you do. I'm not really a fan of the quick vibrato on Puccini, but Mr. Calleja gave a very committed performance and the audience responded. He seems technically secure, his breathing technique, & vowels all seem to be right on point. Gee, i wish he could've made that B-natural cause our toes to curl up with a crescendo, but hey-- he's got lots more years to figure it out.
Both valid comments although the vibrato is matter of taste.I do not agree on the power.This voice is huge in any theatre and i have heard it at the MET and at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.Having said that I do not think he intends to include Calaf in his repertoire and this video is obviously an encore and an exciting one at that.Agreed there are some phrases he could have done better in the first part but the second part is truly impeccable with an exciting top B.Incredible potential..he is 29.
Just to be a nitpicker - he turned 30 in January, but was 29 at the time. LOL. And yes it was an encore, dedicated to sick children everywhere, and especially to his nephew. It was very moving and he was very emotional - this is what you can hear. Funny thing is, if you listen to Pav singing this aria at 29, they have a very similar approach to it. BTW Calleja is singing The Duke in DC later this month and Macbeth at the MET in May.
I find it amusing that when he sings over the mic on counter stirke source the last thing you expect him to be is an opera singer. I was highly doubtful at first when he said this but he sent me to this link and I must say I was blown away.
Calleja is actually a great tenor, but why does he sing Calaf ???!!! He has nor the color, nor the power (and not event the breathing...) to sing such an heroic aria ! Singing Bellini or Donizetti or Cimarosa etc. is not the same thing as singing Calaf!
i dont like this sound,i dont know why...i mean,he totaly rocks and the crowd loves him,and u all love him but to me he sounds like he is affraid....and this fast vibrato of he's...it's just not my game,but bravo Calleja!
As a Maltese like Joseph, I am proud to have a tenor like him. He is continuing what Oreste Chirchop (The Vagabond King) left out. Although I tend to like more the voices of Caruso and Mario Lanza, I think that Joseph is always getting better and better.
Correct...... But it's not entirely wrong to mention GLV. He was actually tagged as the original Calaf by Toscanini and made the initial recording of this aria. Miguel Fleta appeared in the premiere of Turandot due to schedule conflict with GLV. But Fleta is a historical footnote while GLV will be remembered as a great singer.
Great post but I wouldn't go into an argument with Escailas who is a psycothic stalker who goes by the name of "Francis Nouvion". He has multiple accounts together with his two other stooges.
Great singing! Calleja is very young still and I notice how his voice improves month after month. Joseph's vibrato is not different from that of great tenors of the past like Lauri Volpi, etc. I personally like it. His voice tone and production is similar to the tenors of very long ago. It is like he doesn't belong to this time when MOST tenors only care for interpretation but they lack a good voice. Good job Joseph: Keep it up my good friend.
Please do not judge this man on this performance alone.Yes he is not as good as Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma,but listen to a spctrum of his singing.A terrific voice and he will go far.And remember you cannot judge one tenor wiyh another as they all bring something different with their voices JUST ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL VOICE..
tobyt57 1 month ago
He's NO Jussi Björling! I hate that vibrato. Othervise , well he's singing ok.
FD2143 1 month ago
@FD2143 I just bought his new album, "The Maltese Tenor". The vibrato has calmed down considerably. This guy is a great tenor.
johnhoie1 6 days ago
There is one among us who must be tone deaf. Such a shame that louisreedify is hard of hearing,and keeps repeating his self.
ballochdubh 2 months ago
why does he pants so much at the end...maybe he is short of breath??????????
louisreedify 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Meraviglioso Joseph,è stato un piacere grande suonare con te! Davvero un Fuoriclasse *****
synballein70 3 months ago
EXCELLENT VOICE! WONDERFUL !
rrrose1000 3 months ago
ich komme gerade aus einem arienabend mit ihm: schlicht jeder einzelne ton
perfekt, zu herzen gehend, gänsehauterregend und technisch völlig unangefochten.
er ist ein spitzentenor unseres jahrhunderts und absolut in einer linie mit
caruso, lanza und pavarotti.
zur zeit gibt es für mich keinen besseren.
jocmuc1 3 months ago
no es un tenor de fuerza y las notas largas las acorta....no se ....mejor q se dedique al pop o la balada creo q le hacienta mejor a su rango vocal...mi humilde opinion..aunque su timbre es bien bonito...
tete28akira 3 months ago
For me the best opera singer was Jussi Bjorling, and perhaps because of that I enjoy this young mans voice very much indeed. It's a pleasure to listen to him, and to watch those facial expressions.
suzanba7 3 months ago 3
Franco Corelli is the best opera singer ever, taking everything into consideration, let alone the best tenor ever !
hazelssister 3 months ago
I attended the met live-broadcasts for 2010-11. THIS is the voice that amazed and pleased me the most. I appreciate that he does NOT imitate, but rather emulates, the great tenors of the early 20th century who had such excellent technique and timbre. A reminder of Jussi Bjorling, yes !
sfkcbf 4 months ago
This is an amazing voice; the heir to the throne of Jussi Bjorling!
Bjorlingmiracle 4 months ago 2
Fantastic gift for this handsome great diplomat for Malta and our history and our love of Muic. Too bad our National Theatre which had as good a history as La Scalla in Milan was bombed in WWII and is still in ruins. Mr. Callejja makes up for this loss and brings forth the Maltese Spirit and Great Talent God endowed him with. God Bless Him and Keep Him Alive so the world will have Music and not War. He is among the best alive and in the history of Opera.
LordQren 6 months ago 2
Calleja has been given a very special gift. There are many who sing well, but few are capable at this level. He is among the elite and very best. He must be considered alongside Pavarotti, caruso,and gigli. his voice control is perfect.
ballochdubh 6 months ago 8
@ballochdubh he is still so far away from Pavarotti.....his voice is still immature
louisreedify 2 months ago
@ballochdubh his voice is still immature....still far off from pavarotti...and anyway he does not like to be compared to other tenors...ahseb u ara singing with them
louisreedify 2 months ago
One and only was Pavarotti!
9Betoven 6 months ago
This is what a lovely dream sounds like
TheAytoZed 7 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
He is not that good. He is also a little bit low in tone.
ForAll23 7 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
He is not that good. He is also a little bit low in tone.
ForAll23 7 months ago
Malta is a small Island but with a big heart and this is shown to all the world through Joseph Calleja who sings to please the crowds.
mclaire0311 7 months ago
kburi li jien malti bhalu =)
comba4life 9 months ago
Incredible!!!
Brincat88 10 months ago
I saw this guy in Lucia di Lammermoor yesterday live from Met and I fell in love with him...he´s so amazing!!!!
hugrydugry 11 months ago 2
Just saw this dude as Edgardo in "Lucia di Lammermoor"...he got more bravos than Dessay...my God he's wonderful
jackie7610 11 months ago
Brilliant, nothing less
techowiz 1 year ago
people,listen how he performs cabaletta possente amor mi chiama from op."Riggoleto".
rajustas 1 year ago
In the last part, I feel a breeze!
biloccaman 1 year ago
Oui comme je disais ,on dirait un croisement de Bjôrling et de Pavarotti sur le Si,mais sans les qualités totales de ses prédécesseurs.
abracadabranque 1 year ago
What a voice! God bless you Joseph. I am so proud of you, being a citizen of our tiny island. You are on the path of becoming the world's best tenor.
SB9468Z 1 year ago 2
Talents like Joseph Calleja's make me say :
" I'm proud to be Maltese :) "
wockew 1 year ago
so proud to be maltese, with our singer he is simply becoming the best in the world, also ppl looct at the wonderful location he is singing, thats mdina :) pls God if i die i wanna get reborn here in Malta
aircombact2001 1 year ago
Prosit hafna Joseph, keep it up!
biloccaman 1 year ago
this is not in his FACH! He should not be singing this!
paddaman1 1 year ago
If you hear him live he has a beautiful grain which gives the warmth of an old recording
maxjamesorgans 1 year ago
Awesome
paulostroff99 1 year ago
gorgeous voice... wow... lyric tenor roles I can see him perform... don't oversing, Joseph... Calaf is too much. But I can imagine lyric tenor roles for him would be sooo beautifully done by him! I AM NOW A FAN!
alexmz123 1 year ago
Awesome!
paulostroff99 1 year ago
The vibrato is fine, and works very well in an aria that he SHOULD sing. This he shouldn't touch!
Ahdren 1 year ago
J'aime la voix de J.Calleja, un des meilleurs ténor d'aujourd'hui, thank you
girardje70 1 year ago
hi hope u like it,
denniscbirds 1 year ago
He is one of the best Tener in the world.I' very proud of this great men.
Fantastic,nothing more to say.I' proud to be Maltese like him. God bless you Joseph.
DOR318 1 year ago
Quel Chanteur ! Bravo! C'est Magnifique ! Un timbre Riche Une voix qui inspire la paix la sécurité Je suis fan !
sushiyang 1 year ago
He `s THE BEST .......... not only to hear but he`s very handsome .... he sings from the heart that`s why he`s so good !!!! I just love his guy
moonchy22 2 years ago 12
@moonchy22 why does he pant so much at the end? maybe he is short of breath!!
louisreedify 2 months ago
The best tenor now!!!
Joguti1 2 years ago
He is great! The Timbre, fantastic nothing more to say
diandle 2 years ago 2
I wish he would have held that final vincero, but hey, overall absolutely gorgeous tonality, with such vibrancy, I'd say one of the best tenors in modern days. Gorgeous. 5 stars.
seektheforce 2 years ago
J'adore Calleja. Sa voix me fait penser à Caruso, pour ce que l'on peut en entendre sur de vieux enregistrements. Je pense que le répertoire italien lui convient parfaitement. Je ne vois pas pourquoi il devrait s'abstenir de chanter Calaf. Sa diction laisse un peu à désirer pour le répertoire français mais ce n'est qu'une question de travail. Il lui suffit d'un bon répétiteur.
tpoirey 2 years ago
man hes maltese
where im from lofl ...
hes real godd considered by pros pavarotti no 2
rock4eternity666 2 years ago
A cross between Lauri-Volpi and Joseph Schmidt. Quite a combination.
CK18238 2 years ago
This is far from his voice; he should not sing Calaf. He should stick to L'elisir d'amore and that kind of repertoire.
Otherwise he will be the second Pavarotti... He allready have the looks
doktorlustig 2 years ago 2
I agree...I think his voice is to lyrical for Calaf. But he did a very good job and his voice sounds wonderful!
SchugOo 2 years ago
wow. best new tenor, EVER. this is a golden, nostalgic voice...not the dead, metallic voice of so many others
Shanniquitie 2 years ago
Whatever the case musically, it's a beautiful start. I certainly will keep a watch on this up and coming star.
ccaammiiittoo1 2 years ago
Incredible vibrato, clear sound, big voice, fantastic control, he already sounds like the old Italian tenors, he is already excellent, so how will better sound?
Heard him today in The Tales of Hoffmann, in the MET. Great performance.
neelsdp1 2 years ago
agreed i was blown away by him as Hoffmann!
phantasma616 2 years ago
@neelsdp1 AWESOME PERFORMANCE!!!!!! :D
That one was my first opera ever, and it totally blew my mind!!!
CrashDrummer 2 years ago
He's no Bjorling, but a good voice.
vpo2g2 2 years ago
@vpo2g2 With practice, he might be better. He isn't there yet, not by a long shot, but he has the talent.
mareckbamf 2 years ago
Questo è il canto veramente grande
gatticasazza 2 years ago
Superb voice - Bright tone but yet more intense than Pavarotti's and yet more lyrical. It's true what they say, he sounds like Caruso! The best tenor voice in a living human being i have heard!
dukeleopard 2 years ago
Oh my...his vocal tone is so warm and his vibrato is wonderful! He has an "old world" sound. And he is a handsome man. I love his sound!
Lil69446 2 years ago 2
Bravo! I must hear this singer live.
1210Jazz 2 years ago
ups.....beautiful Voice.
gstrickland100 2 years ago
Now this is something big........A maltese Tenor.......WOW !!!!! what a beatiful voice.Proud to be Maltese.
gstrickland100 2 years ago
Beautiful sound and diction is PERFECT too.
gharusa 2 years ago
fine singer. vibrato that is good. great singers like de lucia have it.
gatticasazza 2 years ago
@gatticasazza natural vibrato is good, artificial vibrato is not good. :)
seektheforce 2 years ago
!BRAVO JOSPH CALLEJAS! MUY BUENA VOZ E INTERPRETACIÓN. Siento el final magnifico, toma perfectas las notas altas y llega muy alto. Se nombran 3 grandes tenores pero es sabido que el mejor "Calaf" de todos los tiempos y en todo, es el Gran Maestro F. Corelli, ese es el parametro para mi y Callejas está grandioso. Gracias"seb8791" por este video. espero escuchar y ver más.
pieritlyon 2 years ago 2
Jav HE DOES NOT HAVE A VIBRATO even id he did there in nothing wrong with it as long as it is not over done.
gharusa 2 years ago
His top notes are fine nothing wrong with them. Nice timbre too.
gharusa 2 years ago 2
Just fantastic, bravo. Will hear more from this young gentleman.
MrDejldejl 2 years ago
Work on his upper range? Listen to his Je crois entendre encore and then comment on his upper range. This guy's great!! And growing.
musicmeister1000 2 years ago
bravu Joseph, Talent Malti flaqwa taha,
screem13b 2 years ago
If he could work a bit more on his upper range, he would be outstanding -- I do hear quite a bit of Bjoerling in his voice, which is a great thing. And, gotta say, he looks like he really loves to perform.
mermodfreres 2 years ago
He is a very light lyric - old time fast vibratto. This aria is just out of his league.
PecsMstr 2 years ago 3
@PecsMstr You've hit it exactly. The aria is simply beyond him. That vibrato is ver old time and annoying.
bassfanne45 1 year ago
@mermodfreres He needs to hold the last note for longer, if he's gonna sound like Bjoerling xD Still, a nice voice indeed. Especially in such modern times.
seektheforce 2 years ago
beautiful
0oNicolaCarabot0o 2 years ago
Calleja is wonderful. But give it a try. Have a look at, südstern tenor 28.12.2008, only a privat short cut, but a man with future.
monika27r 2 years ago
His singing is real, sincere, with power and expression. You're a Star buddy.
Leonnidik 2 years ago
Wonderful Island,wonderful people, wonderful singer. World class.
Greatpercy 2 years ago
Wow..... this voice reminds me what opera REALLY is..... Bjorling would be proud. I'd like to see what he can do with il mio tesoro
tenorissimo26 2 years ago
Pienso que desde Bjorling no aparecía una voz tan hermosa en este registro. Talvez le falta en otros aspectos, pero belleza timbrística le sobra.
VidalHernando 2 years ago
Nice 1 Joseph viva Malta :)
Palmizkburi93 2 years ago
Franco Corelli
francotenor 2 years ago
@francotenor FOREVER
66cecilia 8 months ago
His voice is very close to Jussi's. Will go far
atenorforjesus 2 years ago
I am too proud of this young talented Maltese tenor. There is a lot of talent on the island but unfortunately it isnt taken seriously as it should and also it lacks exposure too.
gharusa 2 years ago
Every time I hear him sing I get shivers down my spine! I am so proud to be Maltese like Joseph! He really is a national treasure :)
felina1986 2 years ago
Joseph is great!!! I wish I was Maltese too :(
hoaries 2 years ago 2
Thanks Francis Nouvion. I am Maltese like Joseph Calleja. I'm proud of him.
horeb123 2 years ago 11
I am Francis Nouvion. And I think this tenor is the best of his generation.
FNouvionGrandiTenori 2 years ago 2
howcome NOUVION and that frustrated baboon of GODOR do not pollute these videos??
danielefrustrador 2 years ago
He has a gorgeous silvery quality to his voice. He reminds me a lot of Jussi Bjoerling. I agree with those who say the role of Calaf would not be right (for now) but for the aria in its own right this is just sublime!
Alieaz 2 years ago
He is NOT a Calaf. His (nice) voice is too weak.
dg6da 2 years ago
No one is saying that Calleja sings Calaf or will sing it anytime soon. But in concert it truly works. I agree with you that the voice is not yet the color of the prince but to state that the voice is weak is wrong. I have heard him live MANY times and this is a voice that covers and envelops the MET ORCHESTRA. A voice doesn't get any bigger than that.
Jussi1946 2 years ago
His voice is not heavy or dark enough for Calaf, but Calleja's voice is anything but weak. You may need to hear him live to tell, but his voice is absolutely huge for a lyric tenor.
rmm413c 2 years ago
do you know for whom Puccini wrote Calaf and his type of voice? It was for Lauri Volpi who had a very similar voice to Calleja. Subsequent interpretations led this role away from full lyric tenors in favour of the spinto ones.
Jussi1946 2 years ago
Point one Puccini did not write Calaf for Lauri-Volpi, the first Calaf was Miguel Fleta. Point two if you think that Calleja's voice is like Lauri-Volpi's your having a problem. Lauri-Volpi had a tenore di forza voice who sang Otello, Manrico, Rodolfo in Luisa Miller, Radames, etc. Corelli, DelMonaco, Tucker roles. Calleja has a lovely light lyric voice with great potential not as a tenore di forza like Lauri-Volpi. Cite, please reference for comment re: Calaf for Lauri-Volpi
gaytenor 2 years ago
You are wrong on both counts :) Puccini did indeed intend Calaf for Lauri Volpi and, if I remember well. it was only an indisposition or unavailability that had Fleta sing the premiere. Lauri Volpi was always known best for his BEL CANTO roles in ugonotti, Puritani, William Tell etc. The Spinto roles came much later.
Jussi1946 2 years ago
Jussi1946: A reference please! Puccini actually wanted Gigli at a point in the composition and then he talked to Martinelli about the role. Really Calleja is not Lauri-Volpi and well meaning nonsense like your comment may destroy the thing you admire. Go and view the Lauri-Volpi videos and buy a cd with pre-electric recordings on it. This man was very powerful vocally Calleja is an ant compared to Volpi as was Bjorling. Volpi was singing heavy roles at that time too look it up.
gaytenor 2 years ago
An ant. You have not heard him in house. He might not have the crazy Lauri-Volpi had, but I certainly think he measures up to Bjorling quite well.
Pawelp 2 years ago
Lauri-Volpi's voice certainly possessed a light lyric quality below the bridging notes, & had nothing of the baritonal colouring & heft of say Corelli or Del Monaco. From Bb up, however, it was absolutely enormous & of heroic proportions. A conductor once remarked that LV was one of the great tenor voices to listen to from the opposite end of Westminster bridge! In 1947 he delivered a high B at the end of Nessun Dorma (unamplified) that the critics said made the Albert Hall windows rattle!
hiyadroogs 2 years ago
Comment removed
diomipoteviscagliar 2 years ago
Not quite accurate, diomipoteviscagliar. Lauri-Volpi never suffered any vocal damage whatsoever. He sang Nessun Dorma in score key at a gala aged 80, & la donna e mobile at a concert in his honour aged 85. He did however suffer from a change in his fundamental technique from around 1940 onwards which precipitated the flaws you mentioned. Namely, his chest register was no longer of sufficient tonicity to act as passive anchor to the head register, causing tonal unsteadiness & weak low notes.
hiyadroogs 2 years ago
Comment removed
diomipoteviscagliar 2 years ago
9 months ago I commented, and I'm still listening to this...
one of the best Maltese Talents :)
Midneb 3 years ago
que nadie duerma, que nadie duerma
tu tampoco, princesa....
.
.
.
al alba venceré...
SiMiChiamanoMariel 3 years ago
There is so much Bjorling... great work Mr. Calleja!
igorazem 3 years ago
magnífico!
DafneSinger 3 years ago 2
God, if he would only hold the last note! I would say this is the best voice I can think of since Mr. Pavarotti.
mjfergs 3 years ago 2
Agreed. I wish he could hold it out. But he still doesn't make me feel like Pavarotti does.
Nater389 3 years ago
I agree.
mjfergs 3 years ago
pure nostalgia! that´s old school! two thumbs up...
josefbtarseh 3 years ago
I look forward to hearing him as Rodolpho on Dec. 7th, at the San Francisco opera house. His voice is strong yet sweet. Should be a real musical treat.
operapfan 3 years ago 2
We have the PREMIO ILLICA in Castell'Arquato .........looking forward to seeing you here !!!!!!!!
calzio71 3 years ago 5
it´s the first time that I listen to joseph calleja, and he is amazing.
es la primera ves que escucho a joseph calleja, y el es sorprendente.
jcpavarotti 3 years ago 12
Indeed he is not....he is Calleja. I have just heard him in London singing Requiem. He filled the 6000 people hall as if it was a small room. Bravo!
Jussi1946 3 years ago 8
the role is not for him but this is beautifully sung!
AntoineGodor 3 years ago 9
This is such great singing. His new nessun dorma from this year is even better.
FNouvionGrandiTenori 3 years ago 11
I´m not even sure where Malta really is but it does not make any difference. The old days of Bjoerling and Flagstad ara back. Hurray for the Swedish-Italian old and eternal technique. I love you Calleja.
listeningtoit 3 years ago 21
@listeningtoit -He is easily the best of those I've heard in many years.
paulostroff99 1 year ago
I am proud to be Maltese having such a talent.
berma
bermatrek 3 years ago 11
Shalom
Great voice! Quite a talent in Malta!
Megiddo2008 3 years ago 10
thanks to Joseph for making us Maltese proud!
Midneb 3 years ago 9
Simply amazing. This guy will go a long way!
PATOlogiko77 3 years ago 8
Of course its not the right kind of voice at all for the part of Calaf. But good God what a sound!
Calaf is meant for tenors like Del Monaco, Corelli, Martinucci, McCracken, Martinucci, or Spiess.
Like Bjorling, Calleja is the wrong type of voice for this aria. I can't think of a higher compliment than that - like Bjorling.
Agorante 3 years ago 10
I am sure Mr. Calleja would appreciate a compliment from former 3rd class opera singer such as yourself! He surely needed your approval. (Note the sarcasm) And I am sure Mr. Calleja needed learn from you that his lyric voice is not commensurate with a spinto role such as Calaf. I am also sure Mr. Calleja enjoys singing this aria and entertaining his audience (the magnum causa for singing in a recital).
TheInquisitive4Ever 3 years ago
I was writing about Calleja with the authority of a ticket buying audience member. You seem to seize the opportunity of my fulsome praise for his singing just to personally attack me. Odd.
I was not a third rate opera singer. In fact I was something of a star - just not a star in first tier opera companys but rather in third tier companies. I wished I had had more talent but I don't see how that disqualifies me for holding opinions about singers.
My comments in fact were very mainstream.
Agorante 3 years ago
But of course...
TheInquisitive4Ever 3 years ago
I agree with a lot of your comments and you are right also here in stating that Calleja is not yet a Calaf tenor. I write not yet because I have heard him live A LOT of times over the years and witnessed his voice becoming truly huge. Just heard him in a concert with 4 other tenors and I was amazed to how he actually managed to almost cover the 4 other voices in a circus act encore (which i didnt like) of Nessun Dorma. I hope he is wise enough to progress slowly.
Jussi1946 3 years ago
I also would invite you to listen to his renditions of the flower song and recondita armonia. Since when did we hear such free, easy singing with glorious top notes? None of his peers in his repertoire.
Jussi1946 3 years ago 2
Although I have heard many other versions of the Nessun dorma aria, I think this one is the best. It reflects both the sadness and the will for revenge.
kit645 3 years ago 3
Getonwithit
Joseph Calleja's has a unique voice that fills the soul and the heart. He will soon be one of the top tenors especially that he will be singing with Anna Netrebko within a few weeks.
esinglott 3 years ago 3
How great it is to find this guy on youtube! I made a user name just so that I can comment. No idea there was so much classical stuff for free here! A treasure trove.
Jussi1946 3 years ago 2
I'm not going to get all technical like the posters prior to me have done (although I could), but in simple terms:
I think his voice is much sweeter and lyrical than any of the 3 Tenors (especially Domingo) and think this version is one of the nicest I've heard. Operatically powerful, while not forced. Just the right amount of vibrato too.
hotqueekboi 3 years ago 3
entire roles which are completely out of their fach. I do enjoy them tremendously by the way but both have developed a harshness in their voice which wasn't there before. We have to wait and see if Calleja will take this premature road as well in the hope that he doesn't. It would be a pity. I am enjoying this exchange so feel free to write privately to me as I think we should take it off here.
seb8791 3 years ago
well, why don't go on here, its actually a interesting discussion!?
zappLD 3 years ago
no joke
zappLD 3 years ago
Hessian,
Your comments make sense but I think you haven't heard Calleja recently in the theatre. His voice has grown A LOT without losing any of the sweetness or diminuendo ability he had before. I was there for the Butterfly as well (2 performances out of 3) and not once did I hear him push and the voice rang freely. Now that I have heard him as the duke I can confirm that no damage whatsoever was made to the voice. Mentioning Alvarez and Alagna really means nothing. Both of them have sung..
seb8791 3 years ago
And the fact he now sings Butterfly on stage is confirming what I'm saying: he sings too heavy roles too early! Of course, he was appreciated! He sings well! But Villazon also made successful representations with too heavy roles. Alagna triumphed with Il Trovatore and Aida (except in La Scala...). Di Stefano was applaused for his Calaf or Radames. All of these sounded good - until this kind of roles damages their voice... Success is no criterium for voice health, or for good career choice.
hessianmatrix 3 years ago
And you do not mention explain why Alvarez and Alagna added lately Turandot to their recitals - I doubt you can say it was because they were unable to sing it...I believe you when you say he was great in Rigoletto. He is probably the best Duca alive. I agree he has no problem vith acute notes; I'm not even criticizing his last B (even if here, he is a bit short). But Florez, or Blake, or who ever you want, also have a wonderful B, and they don't sing Calaf, not even for fun...
hessianmatrix 3 years ago
Seb, I know Joseph won't sing Calaf in the next years. But the fact is that he seems to be willing to sing heavier roles too quick. As I mentioned, he sings arias of this kind in recitals very early in his career. Some years ago, Villazon could have sung Nessun Dorma without any problem (I remember him singing wondefully La Boheme at Opera Bastille, and the high C was perfect) ; he would have been the same age as Calleja. But he did not, and, as you said, he is not an example of voice health...
hessianmatrix 3 years ago
Hessian,
Just because he sings Nessun Dorma doesn't mean he wants to add Calaf to his repertoire. Incidentally he did sing Butterfly very successfully recently...
You mention Villazon who unfortunately is "damaged goods." He already labours greatly on a B flat so I would guess that arias with a B natural will be ruled out.
I have just watched a performance of Calleja as the duke at Washington Opera.He was exceptional all round with his high notes perfectly in place.
seb8791 3 years ago
Sorry for typo; should read: "Joseph is too much willing to sing spinto arias..."
hessianmatrix 3 years ago
I understand what you mean, kgus123, but I think that Joseph is too much willing to sing to arias when he is not appearing in a full production. Look for instance at the program of his first CD: he sings Pinkerton from Madama Butterfly and Adriana Lecouvreur! Here Nessun Dorma! Marcelo Alvarez attempted to sing this aria in recitals only recently, same thing for Alagna, and Villazon never did! Don't you think Calleja sings it too early?
hessianmatrix 3 years ago
Brilliant!!!
gmimcw 3 years ago
The previous comment was meant for Hessianmatrix, on the matter of an "appopriate" voice.
kgus123 3 years ago
Superb singing.
FrancoisNouvion 3 years ago
This is a hard aria to pull off after Pav...you almost invite every unkind and unfair comparison upon yourself if you do. I'm not really a fan of the quick vibrato on Puccini, but Mr. Calleja gave a very committed performance and the audience responded. He seems technically secure, his breathing technique, & vowels all seem to be right on point. Gee, i wish he could've made that B-natural cause our toes to curl up with a crescendo, but hey-- he's got lots more years to figure it out.
InformedListener 3 years ago 3
Great Joseph Calleja! Our pride!
GozoTube 3 years ago
Both valid comments although the vibrato is matter of taste.I do not agree on the power.This voice is huge in any theatre and i have heard it at the MET and at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.Having said that I do not think he intends to include Calaf in his repertoire and this video is obviously an encore and an exciting one at that.Agreed there are some phrases he could have done better in the first part but the second part is truly impeccable with an exciting top B.Incredible potential..he is 29.
PucciniLoveR50 4 years ago 4
I have also heard this voice at LOC and the Met and echo the comments about its carrying power. It dwarfed everyone else on stage.
moorfan1 4 years ago 5
Just to be a nitpicker - he turned 30 in January, but was 29 at the time. LOL. And yes it was an encore, dedicated to sick children everywhere, and especially to his nephew. It was very moving and he was very emotional - this is what you can hear. Funny thing is, if you listen to Pav singing this aria at 29, they have a very similar approach to it. BTW Calleja is singing The Duke in DC later this month and Macbeth at the MET in May.
TenorOpera 4 years ago 2
Sorry - it should say "Macduff" which of course is in Macbeth.
TenorOpera 4 years ago 3
I find it amusing that when he sings over the mic on counter stirke source the last thing you expect him to be is an opera singer. I was highly doubtful at first when he said this but he sent me to this link and I must say I was blown away.
matc132 4 years ago
Calleja is actually a great tenor, but why does he sing Calaf ???!!! He has nor the color, nor the power (and not event the breathing...) to sing such an heroic aria ! Singing Bellini or Donizetti or Cimarosa etc. is not the same thing as singing Calaf!
hessianmatrix 4 years ago
Agree
bazantbrendon 3 years ago 2
Of course it's not, but can't we cut a little slack for those performances we know to be from concerts/recitals vs. stage productions.
kgus123 3 years ago
i dont like this sound,i dont know why...i mean,he totaly rocks and the crowd loves him,and u all love him but to me he sounds like he is affraid....and this fast vibrato of he's...it's just not my game,but bravo Calleja!
septichka 4 years ago
How can you write such a nonsense?
Kronos14293 4 years ago
The way he can write such nonsense is that "Guercoeur" is actually a man named Francois Nouvion, and he rabidly dislikes Calleja.
Why, I have no idea. He continues to pollute other Calleja videos with his acrimonious comments.
moorfan1 4 years ago
As a Maltese like Joseph, I am proud to have a tenor like him. He is continuing what Oreste Chirchop (The Vagabond King) left out. Although I tend to like more the voices of Caruso and Mario Lanza, I think that Joseph is always getting better and better.
turhanbey 4 years ago 2
Brilliant!
PucciniLoveR50 4 years ago 6
Correct...... But it's not entirely wrong to mention GLV. He was actually tagged as the original Calaf by Toscanini and made the initial recording of this aria. Miguel Fleta appeared in the premiere of Turandot due to schedule conflict with GLV. But Fleta is a historical footnote while GLV will be remembered as a great singer.
kmillard 4 years ago
Great post but I wouldn't go into an argument with Escailas who is a psycothic stalker who goes by the name of "Francis Nouvion". He has multiple accounts together with his two other stooges.
elohssa2005 4 years ago 2
Great singing! Calleja is very young still and I notice how his voice improves month after month. Joseph's vibrato is not different from that of great tenors of the past like Lauri Volpi, etc. I personally like it. His voice tone and production is similar to the tenors of very long ago. It is like he doesn't belong to this time when MOST tenors only care for interpretation but they lack a good voice. Good job Joseph: Keep it up my good friend.
Y4RED 4 years ago