Joseph Calleja – operaexplorer

Star cast for Rigoletto at The Met: Lučic, Peretyatko, Calleja, Kocan

Flying overseas for the whole day, rushing through the congested New York city and arriving just an hour before the curtain might get things stressful. Nevertheless, despite tiredness and jet lag I managed to enjoy the last performance of renewed “Las Vegas” Rigoletto with a great cast, starring fabulous Željko Lučić, mesmerizing Joseph Calleja, impressive […]

Becoming and being Norma. “Norma” by Vincenzo Bellini, The Royal Opera, September 16, 2016

The opening of the new season in my opera calendar was marked by a trip to London, and I had high expectations for the new production of Norma, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano and performed by star duo of Sonya Yoncheva and Joseph Calleja. The expectations were overachieved both by brilliant musical interpretation as well as […]

Bewitched by Mefistofele in Munich. “Mefistofele” by Arrigo Boito, Bayerisches Staatsoper, November 1st, 2015

My plan coming to Munich to see Mefistofele by previously undiscoved composer Arrigo Boito, whom I have known as librettist for last operas of Verdi: Falstaff and Otello, was mostly driven by weekend performance date to fit the work schedule. It did not come to my mind that this particular weekend – last day of […]