Tenor who made his start in Wexford to sing lead role in NY Met Opera – ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Wexford Festival Opera has always been known for helping to launch the careers of many great opera singers. Now we have the chance to see one of our own back on the Wexford stage as part of The MET: Live in HD series of opera broadcasts. On Saturday, December 19, Wexford Opera House will show the live broadcast of Offenbach’s ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ (The Tales of Hoffmann), a fascinating psychological journey of the fictionalized take on the life and loves of the German Romantic writer, E.T.A. Hoffmann. Maltese Tenor, Joseph Calleja, takes on the leading role after a last minute re-casting decision.

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Wexford audiences may remember Joseph from his stunning performance in 1998 when he performed the role of Liecrona in I Cavalieri di Ekubú by Riccardo Zandonai and Don José in Carmen (Opera Scenes) in the 47th Wexford Festival Opera.  At that time he was only 20 years of age! He returned to Wexford in 2000 to sing the lead role of Zéphoris in ‘Si j’étais roi’ by Adolphe Adam – under the baton of, then visiting Conductor, David Agler, now Artistic Director of Wexford Festival Opera. 

9 years on, Joseph Calleja is one of the world’s most sought after tenors and is currently in New York performing the title role in the Met’s highly anticipated new production of Offenbach’s ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’, which opened on Thursday, December 3, 2009. “Beautiful voices all around,” was the tenor’s immediate comment after the first rehearsals.

Born in Malta in 1978, Joseph Calleja began singing at the age of 16 and was discovered by the Maltese tenor Paul Asciak, with whom he continues to study. He made his professional debut in Malta in 1997 as Macduff in Macbeth and went on to become a prize winner in at the Belvedere Hans Gabor competition the same year. He later won the 1998 Caruso Competition in Milan before performing in Wexford Festival Opera and was a prize winner in Placido Domingo’s Operalia in 1999.

Anthony Tomassini, Opera critic with the New York Times, describes this production as:

“There is much to cheer about in the Metropolitan Opera’s phantasmagorical new production of Offenbach’s “Contes d’Hoffmann” (“Tales of Hoffmann”), which opened on Thursday night. As conceived, this production was to have featured the tenor Rolando Villazón as the poet, wild-eyed dreamer and delusional lover Hoffmann. When Mr. Villazón, in the midst of a vocal crisis, pulled out last spring, the young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who had never sung this daunting role, accepted the assignment. On Thursday he gave his all, singing with ardor, stamina and poignant vocal colorings and winning a rousing ovation. There were technically shaky elements to his performance, and his focused, quick vibrato revealed every slight inaccuracy of pitch. Still, the insecurity actually befitted Mr. Calleja’s take on the character, laid bare emotionally.”

You can find out more about Joseph by visiting his website on http://www.josephcalleja.com.

Tickets for ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ (The Tales of Hoffmann) are €25/€40. Tickets can be booked on-line at http://www.wexfordoperahouse.ie or by calling the box-office at 053 912 2144.  No Booking fee applies.  Join us in toasting the Festival season with a complimentary glass of mulled wine and a mince pie! 


Les Contes d’Hoffmann
The Met: Live in HD
Wexford Opera House
Saturday, December 19, 2009 – 6pm

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