Mar 11, 2007

Villazon out, Calleja in





In this very interesting article from the Times of Malta, you can read what happened this friday at the Vienna State Opera; Rolando Villazon, scheduled to sing in the premiere of Puccini's La Bohème cancelled last minute with a bad voice, leaving the audience furious and yelling.


In those conditions, Joseph Calleja accepted the leading role only 90 minutes before the beginning and did amazingly well.


“ From an artistic point of view they had nothing to be upset about: After all, Joseph Calleja was available... (Mr) Calleja not only stepped in for his colleague, but he also made us totally forget his existence for at least two and a half hours."
The Salzburger Nachrichten




Can you believe the week Calleja had?

He sang three different roles - Nemorino in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore, Rodolfo in La Bohème, and Alfredo in La Traviata - at the Vienna State Opera House in the space of eight days, which is virtually unheard of in the opera world.


Here is one tenor not afraid to loose his voice.
But at 29, if he keeps that rhythm, I wonder how long his career is going to last.

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