Sacred Arias Ave Maria

トップ・テノールが歌う4つのアヴェ・マリア。現代最高の歌声による聖なる調べ。

マルタ島生まれのテノール、ジョセフ・カレヤは今日最も高い評価を得ている人気歌手の一人です。マスカーニ、マスネ、シューベルトとアンドレア・ボチェッリの「アヴェ・マリア」を歌った最新アルバムを復活祭に合わせてリリースします。ボチェッリの親友であるカレヤは彼の「アヴェ・マリア」の録音を特別に許可され、ボチェッリ以外でこの曲を歌う唯一のテノールとなりました。マスネの「アヴェ・マリア」は有名な歌劇『タイス』の瞑想曲の作曲者自身のトランスクリプションを新たに編曲したものが歌われています。シューベルトの「アヴェ・マリア」は1970年代にパヴァロッティのためにデッカによって行われたクラシック編曲です。またマスカーニは歌劇『カヴァレリア・ルスティカーナ』の間奏曲を使っています。そしてこの夏「バイロイト音楽祭」でパルジファル役でデビューするカレヤですが、その前にワーグナーの歌唱をここで初めて聴くことができます。ヴァイオリンのダニエル・ホープ、歌劇『真珠採り』の二重唱ではフランスのバリトン歌手、エティエンヌ・デュピュイと共演しています。
「間違いなく、世界で最高のリリック・テノールだ」―『デイリー・メール』紙
ユニバーサル・ミュージック/IMS

Joseph Calleja has what is really the first requirement for vocal stardom: an instantly recognizable voice. In his sweet spot, which is often hit by this collection of sacred pieces, Calleja hones a quick vibrato that is carefully enough controlled that it seems gloriously warm rather than edgy. In something like a mid-range Ave Maria, of which there are four here (truth in advertising!), he is compelling indeed; audiences took quickly to this Easter 2023 release, which landed on classical sales charts and seems likely to be around for a few more holidays. It is significant that one of the Ave Marias was composed by Andrea Bocelli, who used it to showcase his own voice. Calleja does not really sound like Bocelli, but he has the same kind of virtues and failings as that megastar, who, for many listeners, has been supplanted to a degree by the younger singer as Bocelli approaches senior citizen status. With both, when one hears the voice, one doesnt forget it, and one is warmed by it. Both are a bit less effective outside the centers of their ranges and specialties; Calleja sounds indifferent when the lines from Wagners Rienzi and a Wesendonck Lied (neither a "sacred aria," as neither is Silent Night, but whos counting?). On balance, though, Calleja fans will get what theyre hoping for here, and the singer gets fine support in lush arrangements from his native countrys Malta Philharmonic. ~ James Manheim