"His vocalism is of an altogether superior class. He shapes every phrase with care and imagination, and the sheer artistry of his singing, together with a most attractive natural set of vocal colours, draws the ear again and again."
TRAVIATA, COVENT GARDEN:
George Hall, The Stage Online, January 2005
REVIEWS: LA TRAVIATA
Reviews of various performances of La Traviata (Verdi). Joseph Calleja performed the role of Alfredo:
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, UK
31 January, 8, 10 & 12 february 2005
The Stage Online, January 2005
"Two important cast changes do little to raise the overall temperature in what is essentially a dramatically disengaged revival of the popular romantic classic, though at least one of them provides an individual performance of some distinction.
This is the Alfredo of the Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who suggests the young man’s gaucheness and diffidence in the opening party scene and throughout the role adopts an appropriate stance and expression for each and every situation. His vocalism is of an altogether superior class. He shapes every phrase with care and imagination, and the sheer artistry of his singing, together with a most attractive natural set of vocal colours, draws the ear again and again. Covent Garden should plan a new production for Calleja, who is too important an artist merely to slot into revivals, and in a nominal second cast at that."
George Hall
The Guardian, 6 february 2005
Hold The Rotten tomatoes
"[...] the rising young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, whose Alfredo largely fulfilled the high expectations of another full house. After a slightly nasal, constricted start, with some overtight vibrato, Calleja soon relaxed into moments of mellifluous beauty, more reminiscent of the young Pavarotti than the Domingo with whom he is often compared."
Anthony Holden
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, UK
january 2003
The Guardian, 6 january 2003
"Alfredo is sung by the cultish, young Maltese tenor, Joseph Calleja. He has an easy, sumptuous voice with a flickering vibrato that suggests tremendous emotional urgency."
Tim Ashley
Manoel Theatre, Valletta, Malta
18 march 2002
Andante.com, march 2002
"By far the most interesting performer of the evening was the young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who sang Alfredo. Tall, good-looking and still in his early 20s, Calleja possesses an amiable stage manner if not yet a commanding dramatic presence. As an actor he'll do, but his voice is an altogether superior instrument, a shiny-surfaced lyric tenor of good range with an easily accessed top register. He already uses the voice with some distinction: his Act 2 aria was stylishly delivered, with some genuine bel canto touches. He is now starting to make his way into the wider operatic world; we will undoubtedly see much more of him on the international scene within a year or two."
George Hall
