Chiara shapes up for 'battle of the ballads'

Chiara's haunting voice reverberated through the Sports Palace in Kiev as she took to the stage for her first rehearsal of Angel yesterday, a performance that was welcomed with loud applause by an international bevy of onlookers.

Dressed demurely, yet classically elegant, in black chiffon, with a silver sash around her waist, Chiara was all smiles and in between takes she waved to her fans, mostly Greeks and Turks, who were chanting her name.

So far, everyone has remained mum on the outfit Chiara plans to wear on the night, saying only that she will look "like a diva" and ruling out the colour pink. However, prior to the rehearsal a member of the Maltasong board was seen uncovering a burgundy sequinned evening dress for light check-up - it seems the cat is out of the bag.

Each year secrecy shrouds the choice of clothes of the Maltese contestant. This year is no different and it is debatable whether a sequinned dress would be as flattering as a classic black one, which would allow the focus to remain on the song rather than the outfit.

On stage Chiara felt immediately at ease and she had four takes, the first being a monitor mix sound check, all of which went extremely well. She has another rehearsal today plus three dress rehearsals before Saturday's final of the 50th Eurovision Song Contest.

"There were no technical glitches and from the first take she projected emotion - it was a goose-bump experience," Paul Zammit Cutajar of Bridge Productions, Chiara's management company, said.

Many expert onlookers are predicting that this year could very well turn out to be "the clash of the power ballads". Assuming that Glennis reaches the final with ease, they say that 2005 could very well see the Dutch and Maltese competing for the Eurovision crown.

The Dutch delegation were watching Chiara's performance very carefully yesterday and a foreign onlooker commented that while Glennis had all the right moves and sung very well, she lacked the emotion Chiara projected to the audience.

"Chiara sends shivers down my back with her voice," he said.

When asked about the possible scenario of a battle between ballads during the press conference, Chiara shrugged and smiled: "I love the Dutch song and I can really relate to its style. If it has to be the battle of the ballads, then bring it on."

During the press conference Chiara was continuously asked if she was under pressure to surpass her record of 1998, when she had placed third with The One That I Love.

That year, Chiara had smelt victory, only to see the coveted title swept from right under her nose when the last country to vote, Macedonia, gave Malta zero points, a move that saw Dana International from Israel place first.

"That night it was a big blow. I felt like someone had given me a gift and snatched it away the next instant. But I felt better a couple of days later and there was a big celebration in Malta on my return, which helped," she said when asked to describe the moments right after Israel's victory.

Many were curious to know whether Chiara had a Maltese version of Angel, which she did not yet have, and instead she regaled them with a live interpretation of The One That I Love in her native language. She was also asked to sing a Maltese folk song and lacking inspiration she opted for Lanca Gejja, Ohra Sejra.

Chiara spoke positively of her new management team, Bridge Productions. She said that after a long pause in her career she now plans to release her latest album, under the working title Here I Am, once the Eurovision is over.

The vibe at the press conference was so good that one journalist asked if Malta had anywhere to host the Eurovision if Chiara won and took the contest home.

"Of course we have where to hold it. We may not have the venue in place yet, but if we win I can assure you it will be ready in time for the festival," Maltasong chairman Grace Borg enthused.

Meanwhile, asked who inspired her to write the song Angel, Chiara replied that it was her husband Youssef: "It's a simple message that we all need an angel in our lives."

She was also asked to comment on how she felt to be nicknamed The Voice in international media, and she said that she found it extremely flattering.

Chiara was showered with praise by foreign journalists, including a British who commended her for "a song sung without gimmicks."

However, one of the biggest compliments came from the French head of delegation who told her: "I like your song because you are a real artist."

After the rehearsals, Chiara dressed down and went on a city tour before returning to the hotel in the evening to get ready for the welcome party organised by the Ukrainian hosts.

On Sunday night she attended the Slovenian party and when she arrived she was stopped and interviewed by journalists and followed around by cameras. Chiara had also planned to attend the party hosted by the Belarus participant but the suffocating crowds pushing to get in proved to be a deterrent and she went back to the hotel for a late snack, before turning in for the night.

For those who wish to keep up with what's going on in Kiev, daily live links are also being provided by Eileen Montesin on TVM at 8.30 p.m., and by Pablo Micallef and Mark Micallef of Popcorn Media on Super One TV at 8.30 p.m.

Hamilton Travel made this coverage possible.