It was his lush and sweet Italianate tenor voice, which sounds very much like that of the late Luciano Pavarotti, that stole everyone's heart."
Betty Mohr, Daily Southtown, 5 October 2007
REVIEWS: LA TRAVIATA
6 performances of Verdi's opera La Traviata at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the opening night of the 53rd season. The role was Alfredo.
Daily Southtown
Tenor's charismatic debut enlivens 'Traviata'
A new opera star was born in the debut of tenor Joseph Calleja as Alfredo, the obsessed lover of Violetta, the fallen woman (which translates to "La Traviata") of Verdi's sudsy heartbreaker. Yet it was Calleja, a Maltese tenor in his first appearance at the Lyric, who brought the house down. Calleja has a strong presence and a charismatic masculine style that made him look the perfect part of the young, impetuous lover. It was his lush and sweet Italianate tenor voice, which sounds very much like that of the late Luciano Pavarotti, that stole everyone's heart.
Daily Southtown, Betty Mohr, 5 October 2007
Seen and Heard
Futral worked well with the tenor Joseph Calleja, whose performance as Alfredo was incredible in the very best sense. Calleja brought an evenness to the role of Alfredo with a voice that was resilient yet never strident; he demonstrates an easy facility that one hopes to find in other performers who take on this role. Nuance was brought to the character through Calleja's sensitive use dynamic levels, with piano passages that while quiet and superbly articulated; he blended so well with Futral, that the unity with Violetta his character describes in the text was always apparent in the expression of the music. All he quality that Calleja has brought to other houses was welcome at this stunning opening-night performance, especially in his two arias in the second act. "De' miei bollenti spiriti" was particularly effective in giving a sense of Calleja's true capability and the dramatic aspects of his voice emerged splendidly in the third-act aria "Ogni suo aver tal femmina," the scene where Alfredo's anger stuns Violetta's salon society. This tenor was impressive through the whole opera, and his performance was one of the high points of the evening.
James L. Zychowicz, Seen and Heard
The Chicago Tribune
[...] Still, the Lyric opened its 53rd season with a gala performance of "La Traviata" that might have been just a routine revival save for one important debut -- by young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja as Alfredo Germont, the impulsive young lover of Violetta Valery, the eponymous fallen woman of Verdi's popular tear-jerker.
[...]
With Alfredo, we should sense the devotion of a young bourgeois romantic to Violetta, the consumptive courtesan he has rescued from a life of empty pleasures. We should also feel his outrage when his beloved abruptly severs their liaison out of what he believes is heartless cruelty. Calleja gives us those emotions -- and superb singing to bring them to dramatic life. He commands a real Italianate lyric tenor, robust and evenly produced throughout its range. He poured out his two arias in the second act with winning ardor and flair. Calleja has his limitations as an actor -- his Alfredo registered only anger, not heartbreak, over Violetta's supposed betrayal -- but he's believable as the callow kid from the provinces. A Lyric debut in so prominent a role is a career milestone and Calleja ran with it. We need to hear him again.
John von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 1 October 2007
operaonline.us
As Alfredo, rising tenor Joseph Calleja, in his Lyric Opera debut, brought an impetuousness to his characterization of Alfredo, a true headstrong romantic with a bit of a temper. His Act Two aria, “De’ miei bollenti spiriti,” was the song of a young man in love, and he brought a blinding determination to (often cut) cabaletta “O mio rimorso.” His happiness became sheer vengeance in the gambling scene when he cruelly insults Violetta, but he moved quickly to regret in the famous concertato that ends the second act. With his warm tenor voice, Mr. Calleja gave a finely nuanced performance as Alfredo, and, like Ms. Futral, he demonstrated remarkable ability as an actor.
R. Todd Shuman, operaonline.us, 5 October 2007
Chicago Sun Times
[...] Calleja may lack dramatic finesse, but he offered a plush, burnished sound, especially in the Act 2 aria "De' miei bollenti spiriti." He's definitely a talent to watch.
Laura Emerick, suntimes.com, 1 October 2007
Daily Herald
Portraying Alfredo for the fall performances is Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who made a memorable Lyric debut in this challenging role.
Bill Gowen, dailyherald.com, 30 September 2007
Image Gallery
Traviata Chicago Image gallery coming soon ...
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LA TRAVIATA, Ardis Krainik Theatre, Chicago Lyric Opera
29 September 2007
3, 6, 9, 12 & 15 October 2007
| Violetta Valery | Elisabeth Futral |
| Giorgio Germont | Mark Delavan |
| Alfredo Germont | Joseph Calleja |
| Music director | Bruno Bartoletti |
| Orchestra | Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus |
Address
Ardis Krainik Theatre, Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive.
Box Office
(312) 332-2244, Ext. 5600
Web
www.lyricopera.org