Joseph Calleja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Calleja
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| Born | January 22, 1978 Attard, Malta
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| Nationality | Maltese |
| Alma mater | De la Salle College |
| Occupation | Operatic tenor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
| Children | 2 |
Joseph Calleja (born January 22, 1978) is a famous Maltese tenor, which means he's a male singer with a high voice, often performing in operas. He is known around the world for his powerful and beautiful singing.
Contents
Early Life and Amazing Start
Joseph Calleja was born in Attard, Malta. He started singing when he was 16 years old. A tenor named Brian Cefai discovered his talent. Joseph then continued to learn from another Maltese tenor, Paul Asciak. He went to De la Salle College.
When he was just 19, Joseph made his first big appearance in an opera. He played the role of Macduff in Verdi's Macbeth at the Astra Theatre in Gozo. That same year, he won a prize at the Belvedere Hans Gabor Competition. In 1998, he won the Caruso Competition in Milan. He also won a prize at Plácido Domingo's Operalia competition in 1999.
In 2012, the University of Malta gave Joseph Calleja a special award. It was called a Doctor of Literature Honoris Causa. This award recognized his great achievements as a world-famous tenor. In 2015, he was chosen to join the board of directors for the European Academy of Music Theatre.
Concerts in Malta and Special Roles
Since 2009, Joseph Calleja has held yearly concerts at the Granaries in Malta. These concerts often feature other famous singers. For example, he has sung with Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Hayley Westenra, Ronan Keating, and Anastacia. He also performed with Riccardo Cocciante and a choir of 500 children.
In 2012, Joseph Calleja became Malta's first Cultural Ambassador. This means he represents Malta's culture to the world. It's a role he takes very seriously.
Popular Recordings and Videos
Joseph Calleja has released many successful albums. His first solo album, Tenor Arias, came out in 2004. In 2011, his album Joseph Calleja – The Maltese Tenor was very popular. It reached second place on the German music charts. It also debuted at number one on the US Billboard Classical Traditional chart.
A DVD of his performance in La traviata from the Royal Opera House was nominated for a Grammy award in 2011. He sang alongside the famous soprano Renée Fleming in this performance. His 2020 album, The Magic of Mantovani. The Original Recordings With Joseph Calleja, topped Amazon's UK's Opera Charts.
Joseph Calleja's voice has even been in movies! His recording of "La donna è mobile" from Verdi's Rigoletto was used in the 2007 film No Reservations. This movie starred Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Helping Others Through Music
Joseph Calleja is also known for his charity work.
The Drake Calleja Trust
The Drake Calleja Trust started in 2015. Joseph Calleja is the patron of this trust. It gives scholarships to very talented classical music students. These students study in the United Kingdom. The grants help them buy instruments, join competitions, and continue their music education.
BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation
In 2013, Joseph Calleja and Bank of Valletta started the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation. This foundation helps people in Malta who are in need. It especially focuses on helping children who have special artistic or musical talents but might not have many opportunities.
Film Appearances
Joseph Calleja played the famous tenor Enrico Caruso in the 2013 film The Immigrant. The movie was directed by James Gray. It also starred actors like Joaquin Phoenix and Marion Cotillard.
Personal Life
Joseph Calleja has two children.
Images for kids
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Joseph Calleja
