Joseph Calleja

Maltese tenor, Joseph Calleja is, at only 30 years old, already one of the most sought after tenor voices with the leading opera houses in both Europe and USA, and will, during the 2008/09 season, be appearing at Royal Opera House in London, Staatoper Vienna, Staatsoper Hannover, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Washington Opera and a return to the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Calleja will also bring two more roles to his already great repertoire, namely as Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly and as Nadir in Bizet's Pearlfishers.

Calleja was born in Attard, Malta, in 1978 and began singing at the tender age of 16. Shortly after he was discovered by the Maltese tenor Paul Asciak, with whom he continues to study.

His voice has, by critics and opera lovers alike, been described as the first voice in the new millennium to bridge the old school sound and timbre (something many feared lost long ago), to the 21st century operatic world.

Making his debut in Gozo, Malta, as Macduff (Macbeth) in 1997 and later that year also sang the role of Leicester (Maria Stuarda) for Netherlands Reisopera in Arnhem, Heerlen and 's-Hertogenbosch. Since then his career has taken off in earnest - appearing in more than twenty leading roles.

His first solo album “Tenor Arias” (Riccardo Chailly) released in the spring of 2004 was praised by critics all over the world. His 2nd solo album "The Golden Voice" was released in October 2005 and has been covered with both critical and popular acclaim. Calleja can also be heard in the complete opera recording “Maria Stuarda”, Puccini Discoveries w/Riccardo Chailly and on Renee Fleming's latest CD release “By Request.” 23 February 2009 will see the release of Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montechi" (complete recording) with Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca.