Choose artist...
Home   >   Projects   >   ave maria w/Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Smbatyan
Joseph Calleja

ave maria w/Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Smbatyan

Decca Classics
Release Date: April 7, 2023

Press Release

Read press

Artist Details

Read bio

Tour Dates

View

Website

Visit
Joseph Calleja Concert 2012
Times of Malta Interview
1 Mascagni: Ave Maria (After Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana)  
2 Verdi: Messa da Requiem: Ingemisco  
3 Massenet: Ave Maria (After Méditation from Thaïs)  
4 Bizet: Agnus Dei (After Intermezzo from L'Arlésienne, Op. 23, WD 28)  
5 Bocelli: Ave Maria (Arr. Mercurio for Tenor, Violin and Orchestra)  
6 Anonymous: Pietà, Signore (Arr. Hazell for Tenor and Orchestra)  
7 Rossini: Stabat Mater: Cujus animam gementem  
8 Rossini: Petite messe solennelle, Gloria: Domine Deus  
9 Bizet: Les pêcheurs de perles, WD 13, Act I: Au fond du temple saint  
10 Wagner: Rienzi, WWV 49, Act V: Allmächt'ger Vater, blick herab  
11 Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder, WWV 91: No. 1, Der Engel (Orch. Mottl)  
12 Silent Night (Arr. Bateman for Tenor and Orchestra)  
13 Adam: O Holy Night (Arr. Gamley and Hazell for Tenor and Orchestra)  
14 Liguori: Tu scendi dalle stelle (Arr. Belli for Tenor and Orchestra  
15 Schubert: Ave Maria, D. 839 (Arr. Gamley and Hazell for Tenor and Orchestra)  
Show all tracks
Hide

World-renowned tenor Joseph Calleja releases ‘Ave Maria’ – his first-ever sacred album. Released on Decca Classics, just in time for Easter, this album marks the 20th anniversary of the Maltese tenor’s exclusive signing to Decca and the making of his debut recording in 2003.

Here, Calleja is joined for the first time on record by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan, with no less than four Ave Marias – by Mascagni, Massenet, Schubert and Andrea Bocelli.

The Mascagni is a setting of his Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana while the Massenet is the composer’s own 1894 transcription of his Méditation from Thaïs, originally for voice, violin, organ and piano or harp, but here in a new arrangement (featuring the brilliant Daniel Hope on violin) based on the opera’s original orchestration. The Schubert Ave Maria uses the classic Douglas Gamley arrangement made by Decca for Pavarotti in the mid-1970s, and another star tenor, Andrea Bocelli, gave special permission to his good friend Calleja to record his own Ave Maria, making him the only other tenor to do so.

Among other highlights on ‘Ave Maria’ are Calleja’s celebrated rendition of the Ingemisco from the Verdi Requiem and two splendid sacred tenor pieces by Rossini. Following these is another guest appearance, this time by French-Canadian baritone Étienne Dupuis, in the most famous tenor/baritone duet in opera, from Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.

Also included is Rienzi’s stirring prayer from Wagner’s early grand opera, and the first, ‘angelic’ song from his Wesendonck Lieder, giving the listener the chance to hear Calleja sing Wagner for the first time ahead of his debut as Parsifal at Bayreuth this summer.  

  • Joseph Calleja - ave maria leads OPERAWIRE's 'New CD/DVD Releases'
    Posted At: April 11, 2023 12:00 AM
    OPERAWIRE's Francisco Salazar writes…..This week audiences will get a chance to discover modern masterpieces, baroque works, and a new album from one of the great tenors of his generation. The Maltese tenor records for the first time with the Malta Philharmonic. Released for Easter, the album features four “Ave Marias” by Mascagni, Massenet, Schubert, and Andrea Bocelli.From PR…….World-renowned tenor Joseph...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Busting myths and belting high notes. There's a lot to love about opera / npr: Weekend Edition Sunday
    Posted At: January 26, 2020 12:00 AM

    We've been starting this new year off with genres of music you might not listen to, or that you say you're not a fan of - so far, we've covered jazz, country and deep house. One of those styles of music people love to say they hate is opera, so we asked NPR's resident opera expert Tom Huizenga to explain what he loves about the music and to soothe some common opera-related anxieties. ...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Joseph Calleja set for Opera Naples / Naples Daily News
    Posted At: August 9, 2018 12:00 AM

    Opera Naples is girding for Operation Nile. The opera opens its season with history's grandest work, "Aida," a "Romeo and Juliet" set in the deadly crosswinds of political emnity in Egypt. "Aida" and another seminal work, Bizet's "Carmen," are the two grand operas of its season. Both of them will be fully staged at Arts-Naples. In between those are a confection from Franz Joseph Haydn, "L'isola d...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Joseph Calleja - Verdi is WFMT: Featured New Release
    Posted At: February 3, 2018 12:00 AM

    Joseph Calleja explores the light and dark in Verdi's heroic tenors on his new album. A significant step into Verdi repertoire for Calleja, the album reflects the tenor's flourishing live career performing at leading opera houses the world over. The recording features solo favorites such as Celeste Aida and Di quella pira, as well as duets with soprano Angela Gheorghiu and baritone Vittori...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Celebrate Joseph Calleja's 40th birthday with 40 fun facts about the tenor / OperaWire
    Posted At: January 22, 2018 12:00 AM

    Born on Jan. 22, 1978, Joseph Calleja turns 40 years old today. The Maltese tenor has risen to be one of the greatest singers in the world. In commemoration, here are 40 fun facts about this still burgeoning artist. He was born in Attard, Malta. He was inspired to sing at the age of 13 by the film "The Great Caruso," starring Mario Lanza. In 2012, he released an album dedicated to Lanza, enti...
    Bookmark and Share
Go to artist details