Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1468438
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MAY 2022 4 MUSIC Plácido Domingo to perform at Joseph Calleja's 25th anniversary concert The Spanish opera singer will be Calleja's special guest at the Fort Manoel concert on 26 July SPANISH opera singer Plácido Domingo will be Joseph Calleja's special guest at the tenor's 25th anniversary concert at Fort Ma- noel on 26 July 26. Domingo is a singer, conduc- tor, tenor and baritone, reach- ing almost 4,100 performances in his career. He was awarded with honorary titles and pres- tigious prizes also for his hu- manitarian commitment and for his worldwide promotion of Spanish cultural heritage and zarzuela. "The Maestro needs no in- troduction. His talent, stamina and love for the opera world are revered the world over and what I can promise is that this will be a concert to remember. Placido and I have sung togeth- er abroad, but to perform with him in my homeland is a dream come true. My first big break in opera came in the 1999 edition of his annual Operalia compe- tition and I have wanted to get him over to Malta ever since," Calleja said. He has just completed the re- cording of his sixth album for Decca Records and for his sil- ver jubilee year, he will be per- forming in France, Germany, the UK and Australia among others. "I am very happy and proud of Joseph's beautiful artistic trajectory with his generous voice and admirable extension. I gladly welcome his invitation to participate in this concert to commemorate the first quar- ter century of his career! I was privileged to share the stage with Joseph on two memorable Simon Boccanegra productions and now I am thrilled at the chance of making my Malta de- but with him, in his homeland," Domingo said. Domingo, whose repertoire encompasses more than 150 roles, has continued uninter- rupted his extraordinary artis- tic career for more than half a century and this year, after having sung in Madrid, Mos- cow, Paris, Palermo, Salzburg, Versailles, Buenos Aires and Budapest, he is expected to re- turn to Italy, Austria, Germa- ny, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Slovenia, Mexico and South America. The concert is being pro- duced by Mint Media with the support of the Malta Tour- ism Authority, The European Foundation for Support of Cul- ture, Bank of Valletta and Midi. "When we speak of Maltese Cultural Ambassadors who – through their exceptional talent – give visibility to the Maltese Islands and their end- less beauty, one cannot but not think of The Maltese Tenor Joseph Calleja. It gives us great pleasure, as Malta Tourism Authority to support Joseph's 25th Anniversary Concert, which this year will be held in one of the island's most beau- tiful locations," Malta Tourism Authority Chairman Gavin Gulia. "This annual concert is back and will showcase Malta's top talents, along with other local and international stars while a large number of children will get the opportunity to perform alongside these great artists, and for some, their first oppor- tunity on a stage through the BOV Joseph Calleja Children's Choir," Bank of Valletta CEO Rick Hunkin said. Plácido Domingo is a singer, conductor, tenor and baritone, reaching almost 4,100 performances in his career.