Joseph Calleja treats elderly to a private recital
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja today treated the elderly at St Vincent de Paul to a private recital.
The recital precedes Calleja’s annual summer concert in Malta on Saturday, when he will welcome Italian pop star Riccardo Cocciante, the legendary Dionne Warwick, Maltese soprano Maria Abela and singer Raquela.
Today’s recital was made possible through Calleja’s personal initiative. He always made it a priority to make classical music more accessible to all the Maltese and last year he presented complimentary tickets to a number of children’s homes.
The initiative proved to be a highly successful, with some 300 children attending the concert.
This year he wanted to include elderly people who could not join him during Saturday’s concert.
“It is both a dream and a priority of mine to make this beautiful music accessible to everyone, to people of all ages and all backgrounds. This is my way of giving something back to my fellow Maltese, by taking the music to those for whom, for a variety of reasons, it is not possible to attend the concert on Saturday. One of the greatest pleasures is making it possible for these people to enjoy the music,” said Calleja.
Calleja has gained immense respect not only for his natural ability as a tenor but also for his continued efforts to widen the appeal of his Malta concerts to include audiences who would normally miss classical music events.
Other initiatives include the setting up of the Joseph Calleja HSBC Children’s Choir and establishing low entry-level prices for the concerts he gives in Malta.
In the meantime, preparations at The Granaries in Floriana are in full swing for Saturday’s concert.
NnG Promotions, who are organising the concert, said that tickets in most seated areas were sold out and that only a small number of general standing tickets and seated tickets remained available.
This year’s concert will fuse elements of pop and classical. This experiment was carried out with great success for the first time last year when Calleja was joined on stage by singer Michael Bolton to the delight of thousands of Maltese fans.
On Saturday, hte Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Paul Bateman, will also take part in the concert.
Equally comfortable with both classical and lighter pop music, Bateman was a hit with the Maltese crowd when he first appeared on stage with Calleja and Bolton last year.
A 500-strong children’s choir will also be taking part. An intensive rehearsal schedule for the choir is currently underway under the guidance of Soprano Gillian Zammit.
The remaining tickets are available from Agenda, Vodafone and Exotique outlets and from www.nngpromotions.com .
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Emma Grima
Jul 22nd 2010, 10:48
What a superb voice! Joseph is extremely talented and has temendous charisma. How nice of him to make this gesture towards our elderly. Well Done Joseph, for your success and your generosity.
Ramon Mangion
Jul 22nd 2010, 09:47
Just Great :)
Christine Vella Borda
Jul 22nd 2010, 09:08
The Maltese golden voice, with a golden heart. Thanks Joseph on behalf of the elderly at St Vincenz I am sure you have brought tears to their eyes. You have set a true example. Pity there were still empty places, how come? Was this unik opportunity available to one and all, at the hospital? Were the patients offered help and encouragement to attend?
Jay Galea
Jul 22nd 2010, 08:16
WOW !!! How very nice of him!!!! Apart from having a great voice, he is also very handsome and charming!!
M.Calleja
Jul 22nd 2010, 07:57
Joseph Calleja is the perfect example of the "Made in Malta" - alongside Maria Abela, Miriam Gauci, the late actor Joseph Calleja, and many many others artists, sportmen and scientists, who have made a name for our country abroad. True ambassadors of Malta and Maltese culture. I urge the government to nurture and support such exponents in so many ways than one, as this is the brand that Malta should be pursuing - excellence in quality through its very own people.
John Grima
Jul 22nd 2010, 01:23
BRAVO, BRAVO! What a guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Prosit Joseph. You ARE a credit to your country. I wish you long and happy life.
smifsud
Jul 21st 2010, 23:15
Thank you thank you Mr Calleja you are a true gentleman with a huge heart as big as your beautiful voice, you make all maltese proud and Malta is soo proud of you ...god bless you and your family and may god give u all the good health and happiness in life ...thank you again ...
Godfrey Muscat
Jul 21st 2010, 21:54
Tal-meraviljja mhux biss l-vuci qawwija u sabiha tieghu, Imma tal-meraviljja wkoll, kemm dan il-VIP mhux imkabbar bieh innifsu u tidher ukoll f'ghajneh l'imhabba ghal gzira zighira taghna.
Prosit Joseph u nawguralek aktar successi.
Kevin Zammit
Jul 21st 2010, 21:49
Looking forward for Saturday ... unfortunately I am extremely disappointed that I missed Mr Callejja at the ROH this year ... hope I get a chance to see him next year if he performs anywhere within the continent.
How many people actually realise the fantastic heights this great gentlemen has achieved following in the footsteps of his mentor and a long line of top class performers of the classics? In no other sector have we had such consistent practically within every decade or two actors of international fame.
Yet we are denied a proper theater were more can perform and develop .... what better advert for Malta!!
Shame on this government for spending money that should have gone on rebuilding the theater that now are being spent on building a parliament building on stilts.
GiovDeMartino
Jul 21st 2010, 20:34
Where are those experts who are continually repeating the monotonous phrase "Only in Malta?
Joseph Calleja is not only a great singer, but also a great patriot who is proud oh his Maltese origin. Good Luck!
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 21st 2010, 19:37
I do not think Ms Abela will take too kindly to being called a tenor!
A. Micallef
Jul 21st 2010, 21:15
True!
smuscat
Jul 21st 2010, 22:17
SO TRUE!!!
Jesmond Micallef
Jul 21st 2010, 19:05
What a great voice!!. Tenor Joseph Calleja is a true Maltese gentleman. I really liked watching this video clip. His 2004 CD "Joseph Calleja - Tenor Arias, Riccardo Chailly" forms part of my Maltese collection together with the middle and high Maltese Baroque music from the Fondazzjoni Memorja Kulturali Nazzjonali. Nice.
Vincent Galea
Jul 21st 2010, 18:23
How many wrinkles. How many creases. Each wrinkle a story. Each crease a lesson.
It is supremely thankful at this moment to be alive.
J Galea
Jul 21st 2010, 17:52
Mr Calleja is a credit to our country not only for his singing talents.