Calleja to wow Maltese audience in summer concert

Tenor Joseph Calleja will again be performing in Malta in a concert at the Granaries in Floriana on July 9.

This year, he will be joined by Italian icon Lucio Dalla and famed soprano Hayley Westenra. The concert will also include the participation of the HSBC Children’s Choir.

Details of the event were announced by NnG Promotions and Tenor Joseph Calleja during a press conference held at Palazzo Parisio this afternoon.

The conference was also addressed by Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.

The tenor’s annual summer concert in Malta has now become a fixed appointment on the Maltese cultural events calendar.

Calleja’s efforts have helped to make classical music more accessible to the public. This year’s concert will fuse classical music with some of the most well-loved Italian and pop elements

“We are very happy to confirm Lucio’s and Hayley’s participation in Joseph’s annual summer concert in Malta. Lucio has an amazing following in Malta and with good reason, while Hayley is an amazing soprano whose voice will certainly charm the audience. Both Lucio’s and Hayley’s participation will add an extra dimension to this concert and we have full faith this year’s event will be another memorable and unique show. We received excellent feedback after last year’s concert and with the help of our sponsors, we would like to repeat this success again this year,” NnG director Nigel Camilleri said

Mr. Camilleri said financial support provided by sponsors was ensuring that the concert maintained the same pricing structure as in previous years to make the event as accessible as possible.

Dr de Marco said that Calleja’s summer concert was regarded “as an extraordinary and a not-to-miss event”.

The tenor’s numerous achievements overseas and the high regard in which he was held within international classical music circles made him one of Malta’s greatest ambassadors.

“The stature of this talented, yet humble tenor is admired by many great and established names. Joseph has chosen to emphasise his inextricable ties to our country even through his new album, which will bear the title The Maltese Tenor.

“He has placed Malta on the map of classical music and we are lucky enough to enjoy regular access to his amazing talent.

“It is an experience appreciated and enjoyed by many Maltese year after year. I can’t help but praise Joseph’s efforts to make events of this nature accessible to more people. Concerts such as these are the perfect way to introduce classical music to a wider sector of society,” Dr de Marco said.

Joseph Calleja said he was looking forward to keeping his annual appointment with Malta as this concert was “very much a home-coming for me”.

“It is an honour for me to perform for my country people and, of course, the opportunity to spend some time in Malta catching up with family and friends is always welcome,” he said.

The concert is supported by HSBC, Vodafone and Malta International Airport.

Pre-sale tickets for the concert will be available to all those registered on www.nngpromotions.com at a €10 discount on seated tickets until April 6 or from Vodafone retail outlets. Regular tickets, starting from €35, will be on sale from Wednesday.