Tenor Joseph Calleja says he would be happy to be the first artist to perform on the site of the opera house ruins once the Renzo Piano project is complete even though he would have preferred to see it being transformed into a roofed national theatre.

In an interview with Steve Mallia today on timesofmalta.com and The Sunday Times, the tenor says: “I’m very heartened to see that the government has decided to keep (the opera house site in Valletta) for cultural use. It’s not the best solution... but at least it leaves the option to do it properly one day, so I’m very happy about that.”

Calleja, speaking after his penultimate performance as Alfredo in La Traviata at the Royal Opera House in London, was universally praised by international critics who watched the sold-out shows.

In a wide-ranging interview, the tenor speaks about the ups and downs of life as an opera singer, comparisons with Pavarotti and his July 19 concert with Michael Bolton at the Luxol Grounds.

The online version of the interview also contains performance and backstage footage.

Read the full interview in The Sunday Times today.

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