A couple of misfits A couple of misfits

Diana Damrau and Joseph Calleja presented an uneven program in a lavish setting this weekend in the most recent entry in the Met’s concert series.

on October 26, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Better call Gaul Better call Gaul

Bellini’s Norma Monday evening didn’t at all improve on the production it was replacing.

on September 26, 2017 at 12:51 PM
Serenade Serenade

The Broad Stage presented Joseph Calleja in their Celebrity Opera Series May 10 with a concert called A Tribute to Mario Lanza.

on May 23, 2017 at 7:30 AM
Sonya non mente Sonya non mente

A big chunk of the last act of Norma.

on September 28, 2016 at 3:07 AM
Have you seen the proconsul? Have you seen the proconsul?

La Cieca hears that Joseph Calleja will sing Pollione opposite the Norma of Anna Netrebko at the Met for opening night 2017.

on April 05, 2016 at 9:56 AM
Doge days Doge days

That Placido Domingo and James Levine, the Met’s inexorable septuagenarians, would team up yet again—on April Fools’ Day, no less—for a revival of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra occasioned an uncomfortable degree of doubt and dread.

on April 04, 2016 at 10:30 AM
Out of the frying pan Out of the frying pan

Met press office: Salvatore Cordella will sing Edgardo in this evening’s performance of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, replacing Joseph Calleja, who is ill.

on April 07, 2015 at 1:10 PM
The kids are not all right The kids are not all right

“’They’re young… they’re in love… and they kill people’ goes the tagline for the 1968 film Bonnie and Clyde, but the slogan could apply almost as well to the outlaw pair at the center of the Metropolitan Opera’s white-hot revival of Massenet’s Manon.”

on March 18, 2015 at 9:14 AM
Hysterical blondeness Hysterical blondeness

Wednesday brought the Met’s “real” season opener, an indelible, indispensable night at the opera: a starry revival of Verdi’s Macbeth crowned by Anna Netrebko’s demented Lady.

on September 26, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Where the boys are Where the boys are

When Norman Lebrecht is declaring on an almost daily basis that classical music is dead, it’s perhaps heartening that four of today’s prominent tenors have recently released what might be called fluff/vanity albums.

on March 26, 2014 at 11:57 AM
B. F. deal B. F. deal

Tenors Bryan Hymel (pictured) and Joseph Calleja redeem otherwise routine Puccini revivals at the Met, says Our Own JJ in the New York Observer.

on January 22, 2014 at 8:04 PM
Forever plaid Forever plaid

Starting right this minute, Lucia di Lammermoor starring Diana Damrau and Joseph Calleja, webcast by Sonostream!

on July 10, 2013 at 1:34 PM
The case of the missing vehicle The case of the missing vehicle

La Cieca’s sources tell her that a planned revival of Faust at the Met in the fall of 2014 has been canceled, because who wants to see that ugly thing again, or else the leading lady didn’t feel like singing it, whichever.

on April 16, 2013 at 11:16 AM

UPDATE, Tuesday, 7:45 AM: The Met sent out a press release at 1:27 AM New York time today announcing major changes to its roster for the tour of Japan this month. La Cieca has revised the following gossip item (which appeared at 11 PM last night) to reflect the Met’s confirmations. 

on May 30, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Quoth the Met press office: “Piotr Beczala will sing the Duke in Verdi’s Rigoletto on Thursday, January 27, replacing Joseph Calleja who is ill.”

on January 25, 2011 at 4:10 PM

It’s been rumored, but you know how La Cieca feels about rumors. Anyway, here’s some solid proof that Joseph Calleja has been engaged for the Met’s new production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann set for a December 3, 2009 opening.

on May 13, 2009 at 6:59 PM

Is it just me, or does Joseph Calleja sound simply amazing? La Cieca asks: is there a better lyric tenor out there today?

on April 22, 2009 at 8:37 PM