Malta's opera star, tenor Joseph Calleja and American pop singer Michael Bolton will be sharing a stage in a concert that is guaranteed to have wide appeal by fusing various types of musical genres.

The tenor's strong timbre and the singer's trademark soft rock ballads will form part of the programme that includes a "local element" with leading Maltese artists lined up for July's concert.

"I've always admired Michael Bolton as a lyrical singer who adapts opera to his style of voice," Mr Calleja said yesterday during the concert's launch.

The idea of singing with Michael Bolton came to him last year over lunch. When the singer was in Malta for his concert in Ta' Qali last October, he thought he would love to perform with the American artist who has been on stage with the three legendary tenors Josè Carreras, Placido Domingo and the late Luciano Pavarotti.

And it did not take much to convince Michael Bolton as he immediately took on the proposal, according to NnG Promotions director Nigel Camilleri.

A variety of musical genres, said Mr Calleja, would open the concert to a wide audience.

Although, at this stage, no more details were revealed, Mr Calleja said Michael Bolton and he would be singing in solo and duet and would also be joined by soprano Tatiana Lisnic. Music will be in the hands of the National Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco said this was an "extraordinary event" that combined lyrical with modern music.

"It is a great opportunity to see one of Malta's greatest ambassadors who carries our flag with dignity and has been named as the next Pavarotti... but is also making a name for himself as a great tenor," Dr de Marco said.

This event is to be part of a calendar of events that will market Malta as a place where "things are always happening".

The concert will be held at Luxol grounds in St Andrews on July 19. Tickets start at €35 for general standing areas, €70 for bronze, €110 for silver circle, €150 for gold circle and €200 for platinum.

Tickets are available online from www.nngpromotions.com or from Vodafone, Exotique and Agenda outlets.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.