Described as “a revelation” by The Daily Express, and as “show[ing] exceptional promise” by Opera Magazine, the London-based tenor Cliff Zammit Stevens is one of Malta’s best-known and most talented exports in the world of opera.

Cliff’s path has often crossed with that of tenor Joseph Calleja. Almost a year ago, Cliff, together with Nico Darmanin, flanked Calleja during his summer concert, as the three tenors mesmerised the crowds with their rendition of amazing numbers like Nessun Dorma from Turandot.

Now, as Cliff makes the final preparations to take to the stage for his own concert in Malta, Cliff Zammit Stevens In Concert 2016 – Brought To You By InterContinental Malta, Cliff and Joseph, whom Cliff looks up to as an ‘inspiration’, open up about the highs and lows of a tenor’s career.

Cliff Zammit Stevens

Looking back, how did your career as an operatic singer start?

I think one could say that I have been growing into a tenor. When I was about 14, I used to do a lot of musical theatre and some classical pieces. At the time, I was studying with Gillian Zammit.

However, I had reached a point where I could not further my studies locally because, unfortunately, in Malta there aren’t the opportunities required for intensive vocal training.

I applied for the Royal College of Music in London and was one of the six chosen out of 600 applicants. I applied for a four-year undergraduate course in vocal studies, thinking that this would give me the opportunity to realise whether or not I would pursue my singing career further.

Two months later, I was head over heels in love with opera. Over there, every day is dedicated to voice coaching, movement, language classes and more. It’s like a whole new world opening up in front of you. Then, it suddenly dawned on me that I was blessed to have the gift of an operatic voice and must work really hard to realise my potential. That was eight years ago, but there was no turning back from that point onwards.

A year ago, you put on the spoils of Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore at the Manoel Theatre. How did it feel to take up this role in front of a Maltese audience, a role that  Calleja himself played years ago?

Nemorino is an incredibly beautiful role to play for a tenor. I had performed in this role a few years ago when I was performing with another company and we had toured the UK and also performed in Corfu. I consider it a privilege to be entrusted with a main role at the Manoel Theatre. Obviously, I feel the pressure a bit more, because I am performing ‘at home’ and the Maltese have always shown an incredible support towards me.

Then, there is also the fact that Calleja himself has performed as Nemorino at the Manoel at the beginning of his career, so this is extra special for me as a tenor taking the first steps in my artistic career.

Who are the people that have inspired you or steered you in the right direction so far?

Of course, Gillian is the person who ‘discovered’ me and I owe everything to her. Calleja is an amazing artist and I really look up to him. Knowing that he believes in me is an incredible moral boost. It was a great honour sharing the stage with him, both for the fundraising concert of the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation in December 2014 and during last year’s summer concert.

How does the world of performing arts in Malta measure up?

There is definitely more awareness. People are genuinely intrigued by this world. Unfortunately, however, we still lack resources and training opportunities to enable students to reach their full potential.

The BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation is probably one of the best things that could have happened to Malta in this regard. Performing arts students, particularly in their first years, need a lot of support. Without the foundation’s support, I would not have been able to live in London and afford singing lessons.

For instance, when studying an opera, one needs to find a good repetiteur who would play the music while you rehearse and help you explore different ways of performing a given piece. You also need to find a language coach and keep up your singing lessons to constantly strengthen your technique.

There is definitely more to being an opera singer than meets the eye.

Joseph Calleja

A tenor’s career is very demanding. You seem always to be globe-trotting from one theatre to the next. How do you manage?

The career comes hand-in-hand with a lifestyle that is very demanding, not only on me personally, but also on my family. You need to be prepared to make sacrifices and your social life has to be shaped accordingly.

If we all do our bit, this world of performing arts won’t remain the realm of the few enthusiasts, but will be within the reach of everyone

A collaboration with Bank of Valletta led to the setting up of the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation. What was your objective?

The BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation was a dream I had been nursing for quite a while, and I am thrilled at what it managed to achieve over the first four years.

The objectives of the foundation are two-fold. Undertaking a career in the world of performing arts is no mean feat. It takes talent yes, but it also takes perseverance and hard work. The financial backing is important and it is a pity that many talented youths are unable to follow their dream through because of lack of financial support. The satisfaction comes from seeing the scholars who are being supported by the Foundation improve year after year.

Cliff, for instance, is a scholar of the foundation. This year, Nicola Said, another scholar of the foundation, who was also a guest for my summer concert, will be participating in Cliff’s concert. Through the foundation, we can help more of these scholars take the next step.

Another initiative of the foundation is the Growing Through The Art programme. Here, we are exploiting the therapeutic power of music and art to help vulnerable children come to terms with difficult circumstances. Maybe, they won’t all become artists but that is not the goal here – the goal is to help them come to terms with their present and not give up on a brighter future.

What are we to expect from Joseph Calleja in the years to come?

I have new recordings lined up, both solo and of complete operas. But now, the challenge is to keep my voice healthy and grow into new roles in the world’s greatest houses.

Meanwhile, the foundations I have in both Malta and in the UK are taking a lot of time and it’s a pleasure to actively help so many brilliant budding young artists.

I have also been Malta’s Cultural Ambassador for a number of years now and it is a role I take very seriously and was thrilled to have the government’s support for project’s such as Meludia, making Malta the second nation to make this great educational platform available for all its residents.

How are the performing arts faring in Malta?

A few years ago, I would have said, and probably I did say, that most people ignore this world, and consider it irrelevant to their lives. That situation still exists, but it is slowly improving. A lot has been done – our Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has reached extraordinary standards. We see talented youths looking to embark on careers that would not have featured on their radars a few years back.

The Manoel Theatre is packed throughout the season and that is the best compliment possible. I am positive that, if we all do our bit, this world of performing arts won’t remain the realm of the few enthusiasts, but will be within the reach of everyone, like it should be.

Cliff Zammit Stevens In Concert 2016 – Brought To You By InterContinental Malta is Cliff’s eighth solo concert. It will take place on September 4 at 8pm at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta. Tickets are available online.

www.ticketline.com.mt