Joseph Calleja: The Maltese Tenor

Soloist: Joseph Calleja. L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Marco ArmiliatoDecca 478 2720 ****

This fine lyric tenor hasn't been too busy recording in recent years – it been some five years since his last recital release. However, Calleja has remained very active in the major opera houses, and he had particular success in Simon Boccanegra at Covent Garden in 2010, when he almost outshone Placido Domingo (who was singing the baritone title role). Calleja's fine lyric tenor voice – with a slight but attractive vibrato – invites comparison with Pavarotti, and in this disc of popular arias he goes head to head with that tenor's memory. While his tone is pushed at times by the material, he sings with great vocal colour and sensitivity. His lesser-known duet with promising young Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak from The Pearlfishers is very engaging. All in all, a disc to enjoy. deccaclassics.com