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Artist: Joseph Calleja
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Joseph Calleja:

ave maria w/Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Smbatyan

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:

The Magic of Mantovani

The Magic of Mantovani features remasters of famed Anglo-Italian conductor Mantovani's original orchestral stereo recordings, set with brand new vocals for the first time from "outstanding" (The Guardian) tenor Joseph Calleja. Highlights include beloved mid-century standards, Rodgers and Hammerstein classics, and selections from West Side Story, including a special guest appearance by Grammy-winning American soprano Renée Fleming in a performance of "Somewhere."

Joseph Calleja:

Verdi

Joseph Calleja, one of the world's leading tenors, returns with his new album ‘Verdi' – due for release on Decca Classics on 2nd February 2018. 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. It is his first new album in six years – his last solo album ‘Amore' was released in September 2013 and he was also part of a 2013 recording of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra. However, this new album marks a significant step into Verdi repertoire for Calleja, as he tackles new roles which he has yet to play on stage.