Thea in splendid performance with Gigi D'Alessio

Maltese singer Thea Garrett Falzon, 17, lived up to expectations with a brilliant performance with Gigi d'Alessio in Rome last night.

Another Maltese, Christabelle Borg will get her chance to perform with the Italian star today.

Thea told The Times earlier this year how her road to Rome started from an idea by former Maltasong chairman Grace Borg. Ms Borg handed a CD of popular music by Ms Falzon Garrett and Christabelle Borg to the Italian singer’s management company, who suggested the two take part in a talent scout competition.

Since then Ms Falzon Garrett had been training to learn the song Apri le Braccia (Open Your Arms).

She admitted it was not an easy feat for someone who is not fluent in Italian.

Winning the competition to join D'Alessio was a step towards another dream - performing in public at London’s West End. Since childhood she has loved the theatre, especially Les Miserables and the Phantom Of The Opera. Earlier this year she came close to winning a prestigious scholarship at London’s Royal Academy of Music when she placed among the first 20 from some 22,000 people contesting the Voice Of Tomorrow competition.

“It was the first time I sang in public, in front of so many people, so I was very happy with the placing,” she said.

Watch yesterday's performance at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRdaFzF1Mjg