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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Joseph Calleja wins top classical music award

Tenor Joseph Calleja, Malta’s most famous export, will tonight be announced as the winner of the prestigious Gramophone Artist of the Year 2012 during a ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

Tenor Joseph Calleja, Malta’s most famous export, will tonight be announced as the winner of the prestigious Gramophone Artist of the Year 2012 during a ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja is set to add yet another trophy to his already hefty cabinet tonight when he will be named Gramophone Artist of the Year 2012, The Times has learnt.

The international star saw off competition from nine other classical music nominees to win the award, which is voted for by members of the public.

Calleja will be officially announced as the winner of this prestigious prize during a gala ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel this evening, which is set to be hosted by soprano Danielle de Niese.

Calleja is unable to be present due to a singing engagement in Vienna. However, he has sent the audience a message and told The Times he is thrilled to have scooped the award.

“The other nominees are all great artists, so I am very honoured to have won this. It has been a great month for me personally and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me from the bottom of my heart.”

Every year, the Gramophone classical music awards celebrate an artist at the height of their fame.

Members of the public have been able to vote for their favourite performer from a shortlist of 10 artists. Musicians are shortlisted for having contributed something special to classical music throughout the past year.

Calleja will join a host of legendary classical music figures who have won the award in the past, such as tenor Luciano Pavarotti, conductor Simon Rattle, violinist Hilary Hahn and cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma.

The award caps off what has been hugely successful period for Calleja. The tenor headlined the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms to universal acclaim at the beginning of September, becoming the first tenor to headline the night in 30 years, and released a new album earlier this month, Be My Love, which is a tribute to Mario Lanza.

He is not about to slow down, with several engagements to come across the world including a long-awaited debut at Milan’s La Scala opera house in February – the only theatre of note where he has not yet sung.

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Anthony Borg

Sep 27th 2012, 16:34

I very much agree with you, Sir. Also, Mr J Calleja would be highly honoured if one of his greatest dreams is made true:- that of a 'decent' opera house on our island where he and numerous other highly talented local youths can train and perform in their own motherland. Congratulations Joseph!

ALBINO ELLUL

Sep 27th 2012, 13:59

it is nice to see maltese people succed congratulations albino ellul

Lino Cuomo

Sep 27th 2012, 11:34

I join you in your precise comments Mr F.A

Alfred Vassallo

Sep 27th 2012, 11:13

Excuse me but Joseph has been lifting our flag high LONG before Simon. Simon doesn't even begin were Calleja is. Proset Joseph you really are a breath of fresh air.

HERMANN PAUL FARRUGIA

Sep 27th 2012, 14:05

Well said Mr Grech.
Simon Busuttil & Joseph Calleja are very talented, top professionals in their own respective fields that, although so different , makes them most valid and genuine ambassadors of our small Islands Nation.
I understand that Mr Grech handpicked & congratulated Dr Simon Busuttil for being selected by European political journalists as most dedicated MEP in the Health Sphere this past year. This recognition is for Simon's real commitment to the cause of millions of European citizens, young & old, suffering of Diabetes Mellitus & its complications. DM is the most rampant non-communicable disease in the Western World & unfortunately is now reaching epidemic proportions with a prevalence of near 15% of populations.
Diagnosed early enough through well targeted programmes and treated appropriately, Controlled Diabetes in line with EASD directives will spare European Union Health Budgets & Social Security/ Health Insurance providers vast multi-millions of euros in avoidable secondary & tertiary Health Care. So , Simon, BRAVO! and keep up the good work.

Hermann P. Farrugia
MD.,DU(Endocrinology & Metabolic Disease)Univ. Paris V

J Martinelli

Sep 27th 2012, 14:16

While both continue to contribute positively to Malta's image, one should not group politicians with artists of Joseph Calleja's calibre. The two do not mix, or at least, should not.

Well done Joseph and Maltese in all corners of the world have voted for you, wished you well and now congratulate you for winning this prestigious award. We may lose our soccer games, we may lose at Eurovision song contests but we managed, through you, to clutch the very top classical music pennant. Prosit.

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