MADAMA BUTTERFLY, PUCCINI

ABC News

Mike Silverman for The Associated Press, October 23, 2010

"[...] tenor Joseph Calleja [...] brought all the ardor and beauty of tone one could wish for to the role of Pinkerton. In fact, so sweet and alluring is the sound of his vibrato-driven voice that he made the arrogant lieutenant less despicable than he often seems. The Maltese-born Calleja, who will be singing three major roles this season at the Metropolitan Opera, has matured into one of the finest lyric tenors before the public today."

Houston Chronicle

Everett Evans, October 24, 2010

"Tenor Joseph Calleja makes his eagerly awaited HGO debut as Pinkerton and confirms himself a major star - even in the tricky role of a leading man who's both a cad and in absentia much of the running time. Calleja sings with such range, such ease and such a rolling, robust sound that every phrase is pure pleasure to hear. He projects extrovert exuberance and casual charm, as in his establishing aria about his life as an adventuring American vagabond, that somewhat excuses his later behavior, or at least helps explain Butterfly's devotion. With his ardor matching Martinez's soulfulness, their love duet zooms to that Puccini stratosphere of nothing-else-matters romanticism."

CultureMap Houston

Theodore Bale, October 23, 2010

"Everyone I spoke with at opening night hopes that Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who made his HGO debut as Pinkerton, will return to Houston. An arrogant, self-absorbed character in the opera, Pinkerton should demonstrate overwhelmingly confidence in his singing, and Calleja is a wonder throughout. He is a dream tenor of the highest caliber."