By David Mellor, Opera Critic of the Mail on Sunday and Classic FM presenter
MY DEAR old friend Merville Gover and I are thrilled to be able to present the internationally renowned Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja at Lady St Mary on June 29th.
Joseph has been a great friend for nigh on 20 years, and has greatly enjoyed his visits to the Purbecks. So when he discovered that Penny and I had taken the plunge to buy a place down here, he wished to give us a house warming present. Which will hopefully mean a full church on June 29th, and a very substantial sum to benefit church funds.
I am also overjoyed that the distinguished operatic conductor and pianist Stephen Barlow will be partnering Joseph. Stevie and his wife Joanna Lumley are also long-standing mates of ours.
World renowned tenor Joseph Calleja and distinguished operatic conductor and pianist Stephen Barlow will be in concert at the Priory Church of Lady St Mary in Wareham on the 29th June.
Joe and Stevie are performing La Gioconda at Grange Park Opera, so will have plenty of time in between to rehearse their Wareham programme.
We want to make this an evening to remember for the greatest tunes ever written in either opera or song. So there will be plenty of popular arias, including of course Nessun Dorma. And lots of favourite songs as well, including Joseph’s signature song La Vie En Rose, and, at my personal request, stuff from his last Decca album of Mantovani favourites.
Listen to Parla Più Piano (From “The Godfather”) from the Magic of Mantovani album with Joseph Calleja here – The Magic of Mantovani The Original Recordings with Joseph Calleja on YouTube.
If you don’t have ten good things to hum on the way home, I’m tempted to offer you your money back.
Happily, lots of good concerts take place at Lady St Mary, where the acoustic is excellent. When Joseph did a run through a couple of months ago, he really loved how it sounded. A lot of people hear great voices on CD, or on the television, or sometimes live in large auditoriums. To hear a voice of Joseph’s quality in the intimate surroundings of Lady St Mary will, I assure you, be a very special treat.
** Limited tickets remaining for the Joseph Calleja concert! **
For full concert details and ticket purchases click the link below…
Joseph Calleja Concert ticket sales at www.visitwareham.com
Or you can purchase tickets in person at A.F. Joys Menswear shop 35 North Street in Wareham.