Teenagers perform with Gigi D'Alessio

Two Maltese teenagers were handpicked from hundreds of contestants abroad to sing with popular Italian singer Gigi D'Alessio.

In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Thea Garrett and Christabelle Borg performed with Mr D'Alessio last night and will do so again tonight as he kick starts a new tour in Rome.

Ms Garrett and Ms Borg entered the competition after former Maltasong chairman Grace Borg handed a CD of popular music sung by the two of them to the Italian singer's management company.

After the selection process, Mr D'Alessio said only the best singers were going to be chosen because he did not want to let his fans or the public "humiliate singers who are not ready for a big stage with 7,000 people attending the shows".