Reviews
The Royal Albert Hall.
Best of all, though, was the young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja's unforced and open-throated ardour, soaring through the Hostias with real grace and, yes, true devotion."The Times
REVIEWS: THE VERDI REQUIEM MASS
Verdi's Messa da Requiem performed at the BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, August 2008
Violetta Urmana, Michelle de Young, Joseph Calleja and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo in the BBC Proms' Verdi Requiem, Royal Albert Hall, 31 August 2008, led by conductor Jirí Belohlávek.
The Times
"Best of all, though, was the young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja's unforced and open-throated ardour, soaring through the Hostias with real grace and, yes, true devotion."
Neil Fisher, The Times, September 2, 2008
Opera Today
"Joseph Calleja’s beauty and strength of tone made the Ingemisco searching and not in the least self-indulgent [...]"
Ruth Elleson, Opera Today, 16 September 2008
Classicalsource.com
"Calleja impressed with his ringing tenor and the finesse with which he sang some of the trickier moments – his lightening of tone and his diminuendo at ‘Qui Mariam absolvisti’ was magical and the ‘Hostias’ hardly less so. He has an interesting individuality of tone, provided by what seems to be a very fast vibrato, which is very appealing."
Alexander Campbell, Classicalsource.com
Financial Times
"The BBC Symphony and Crouch End Festival Choruses performed capably and a well-balanced international quartet, featuring soprano Violeta Urmana, mezzo Michelle DeYoung and bass Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, was distinguished by an extra glow of Mediterranean ardour from the tenor Joseph Calleja."
Richard Fairman, FT.com, 1 September, 2008
The Guardian
"The soloists, led by the great Joseph Calleja, were exceptional."
Tim Ashley, The Guardian, 2 September, 2008
Musicweb-international
"Joseph Calleja’s tenor had some of the most authentic Italianate singing produced by a non-Italian I have heard for some time. The Hostias floated gloriously and the Ingemisco used his head voice in a manner that recalled the glory days of Caruso in this music."
Evan Dickerson, musicweb-international.com, 2 September, 2008
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THE BBC PROMS 61, Verdi's Requiem Mass, Royal Albert Hall, London,
31 August 2008
| Soprano | Violeta Urmana |
| Mezzo soprano | Michelle de Young |
| Tenor | Joseph Calleja |
| Bass | Ildebrando D'Arcangelo |
| Conductor | Jiří Bĕlohlávek |
| Orchestra | BBC Symphony Orchestra |
| Chorus | BBC Symphony Chorus & Crouch End Festival Chorus |