This CD, coming so quickly on the heels of the one by Rolando Villazon, bodes well for tenorizing in the next couple of decades. Tenor Joseph Calleja is only 26 years old, but this debut recital already presents a polished artist. Calleja’s repertoire overlaps somewhat with Villazon’s, but the latter’s voice is darker and heftier and he probably will wind up in the Cavaradossi/Don Carlo camp, while Calleja remains in Donizetti and lighter Verdi–not to mention some French roles. His tone is bright and shiny, and he has a quick vibrato that adds intensity and a touch of plangency.
You only have to listen to the first note of Maurizio’s “La dolcissima effige”–a lovely piano F-on-the-staff–to realize that this man is an artist. Similarly, the close of the Duke’s “Parmi veder le lagrime” ends with a trill, followed by a lovely diminuendo, and the second verse of “Possente amor” is classily embellished (although its ultimate note, a high-D, is not a prize-winner). Alfredo’s Act 2 recitative, aria, and cabaletta are simply brilliantly sung, with an impetuosity and urgency that gives the music “face”, and the sadness in Macduff’s aria rings absolutely true, even out of context. Edgardo’s last-act scene from Lucia rarely works on CD, but here Calleja takes us through all of the character’s feelings, from anger to despair. In short, this light-ish voiced Maltese tenor is a class act, and unless he opts for, say, Radames or Chenier in the next 15 years, he should be a star. The presentation is one of Decca’s best, with Riccardo Chailly offering strong support; a chorus and other soloists are provided when needed. The sound is superb. [5/20/2004]
