Joseph Calleja Brings to Life the Heros and Villains of Verdi’s Operatic World with New Album, Verdi, Out February 2

For immediate release

Joseph Calleja Brings to Life the Heros and Villains of Verdi’s Operatic World with New Album, Verdi, Out February 2

 

08 December 2017 - Joseph Calleja, one of the world’s leading tenors, returns with his new album, Verdi, due for release on February 2 via Decca Classics/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The album sees Calleja explore the light and dark in Verdi’s heroic tenor roles and features guest appearances from soprano Angela Gheorghiu and baritone Vittorio Vitelli.

Verdi has a special place in Calleja’s heart, having made his debut as Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth when he was just 19. Verdi is his first new album in six years with his last solo album Amore having been released in 2013 along with his recording of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra. This latest album marks a significant step into the Verdi repertoire for Calleja as he tackles new roles that he has yet to play on stage.

Among the arias on the new album are “Di quella pira” and “Ah! Si, ben mio…” from Il Trovatore, “Già nella notte densa” from Otello, and “Celeste Aida” from the opening scene of Verdi’s Egyptian opera. Each of the roles on this album celebrate the tenore robusto as the voice-type of an operatic hero and showcase Calleja’s powerful voice.

Calleja’s new album also reflects his flourishing live career. He is a regular performer at the world’s leading opera houses and will be performing in London for a month in the new year to sing Puccini’s Tosca at the Royal Opera House (January 15 – February 7) before heading to Berlin, Monte Carlo and Munich.

Born in Malta in 1978, Joseph Calleja began singing at the age of 16, first in his church choir and then in formal training with Maltese tenor Paul Asciak. One of his native land’s biggest celebrities, Calleja was selected to serve as Malta’s first cultural ambassador in 2012 and earlier this year he was named a brand ambassador for Air Malta. Calleja recently teamed up with Malta’s Bank of Valletta to form the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation which will serve to help children and families in need. Calleja is also the recipient of the 2014 International Opera Awards’ Readers’ Award.

 

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Joseph Calleja – Verdi

1. “Se quel guerrier io fossi!...Celeste Aida” from Aida, Act I
2. “Ah! Si, ben mio …” from Il Trovatore, Act III, Scene II
3. “Di quella pira” from Il Trovatore, Act III, Scene II (Featuring: Angela Gheorghiu (soprano))

4. “La Vita è inferno all’infelice! …Oh, tu che in seno agli angeli” from La Forza del Destino, Act III (Featuring: Vittorio Vitelli (baritone))

5. “Invano, Alvaro” from La Forza del Destino, Act IV
6. “Dio, che nell’alma infondere” from Don Carlo, Act II (Featuring: Vittorio Vitelli (baritone, Rodrigo))

7. “Già nella notte densa” from Otello, Act I (Featuring: Angela Gheorghiu (soprano))

8. “Oh’ mostruosa colpa! Si, per ciel marmoreo giuro!” from Otello, Act II (Featuring: Vittorio Vitelli (baritone))

9. “Dio! mi potevi scagliar” from Otello, Act III
10. “Niun mi tema” from Otello (Act IV)

 

Joseph Calleja (tenor)

Angela Gheorghiu (soprano)

Vittorio Vitelli (baritone)

Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana

Ramón Tebar (conductor)

Apollo Voices (chorus)

Joan Enric Lluna (clarinet)    

Rafal Jezierski (cello)

 

 

 

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