Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1416377
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 OCTOBER 2021 8 ALMANAC My essentials JOSEPH CALLEJA 43, Opera Singer and Maltese Cultural Ambassador Extrovert and introvert, in love with life, first and foremost my children. My passions include wine, diving, cooking, boxing, weight lifting, rambling and discovering new places. 1 2 4 5 1. Books 3 2. Film/TV 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place HAVEN'T watched any film of note recently, but I loved the series "The Good Doc- tor" which follows the life of a genius, autistic doctor, based on a South Korean TV drama. I would certain- ly recommend it. It's sort of like Dr. House (another fa- vourite) but not quite. I mostly follow the portals of MaltaToday and The Times of Malta. Both offer excel- lent articles, news and in- sights. Otherwise, I use the internet mostly for work and to bond (when I am away) with my son Xandru playing Vailorant – a game in which I get my ass handed to me by much better teenagers! MY favourite song out of op- era, definitely Wicked Game (Chris Isaak). My friends have a video of me singing it when I was very drunk (just don't drink gin). I certainly hope this video will never see the light of day. Favourite band of all time must be Queen. Greatest and favourite per- former alive today, I would say Andrea Bocelli. The latter is perhaps, the most versatile musician an artist I have ever met. I would love to discover the ruggedness of New Zealand. Some say it's very similar to the Highlands in Scotland. When I am not singing, I love to be in the outdoors, fly fishing, climb- ing Munros, and swimming in freezing lakes. I also love horse riding when I am not weighing as much as a baby elephant – my weight tends to fluctuate thanks to Michael Tabone's wines, mouth-watering chees- es, and Fermier oysters… A lot is said about Malta's over devel- opment, but actually, the island still has magnificent walks, es- pecially in the Mellieha, Majjis- tral Park area. I read almost anything, from biographies, fiction to histor- ical novels, Jan Guillou and Bernard Cornwell being my favourite from the latter. Al- though I am away for most of the time, I do follow many ar- ticles that concern our beloved Malta. It is sometimes sad to note that hypocrisy and dou- ble standards (not to mention fanaticism and misplaced idol- ization) often get in the way of meaningful public discourse. Many, on our beautiful island, need to learn the art of discus- sion and of healthy argumen- tation. Some seem to believe that freedom of speech is on- ly applicable when you agree with them.