Tenor Joseph Calleja is determined to take classical music to a larger crowd as he embarks on another personal initiative that is set to open up his annual July summer concert in Malta to an even wider audience base than is usually expected for classical performances. This was announced by Joseph Calleja himself during a signing ceremony organised by NnG Promotions in collaboration with Vodafone where a number of Calleja’s fans eagerly awaited the Tenor to sign their CD’s and pictures at the Vodafone outlet in Republic Street, Valletta.

“Since NnG Promotions started working with Joseph Calleja we have always supported his initiatives. For this year’s concert, Calleja has enlisted the support of leading mobile provider Vodafone to offer a specially discounted ticket price of just €25 for all Vodafone customers who would be able to gain access to a specially designated standing area,” said Nigel Camilleri for NnG Promotions.

They said that Joseph Calleja’s annual summer concert in Malta has become the most sought after event in the Maltese events calendar. This year, Joseph Calleja will perform on the 24th July at The Granaries in Floriana together with Italian sensation Claudio Baglioni and music legend Dionne Warwick.

“I consider it a personal mission to make my public performances in Malta as accessible as possible to people who would not usually attend these events. Although standing tickets are normally associated with the pop and rock events, this year we are working hard to cultivate a new culture where anyone can enjoy Warwick’s, Baglioni’s and my performance in a relaxed setting normally associated to other music genres. Without support from Vodafone and NnG, the event would not be possible in the first place and more so, we would neither be able to lower prices to these unprecedented levels,” said Joseph Calleja.

“Not only will Vodafone customers get €10 off their general standing tickets purchased from our outlets, but they will also walk through an Entrance set up specifically for them,” said Maria Calleja, Vodafone Malta Brand Manager. “There will be a Vodafone Dedicated Area set up for these ticket holders, a zone enjoying good positioning from where to enjoy what is surely to be a memorable event. Currently we are planning several activities and offers to celebrate our 20 years of operations in Malta and this is one way we want to give more to our customers!”

“Joseph 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 a children’s choir and establishing low entry-level prices for the concerts he gives in Malta.”

Jospeh Calleja said that he was in Malta for a short break to meet his family after a series of concerts in Japan, where he performed the role of Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore. Right after the signing session in Malta, Mr Calleja leaves again for Frankfurt, where he will be performing the role of Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Franfkurt Alte Oper, followed by a performance in China, more shows in Frankfurt and a private recital in Croatia amongst others. These will be followed by performances in Canada at the Roy Thomson Hall and in London at the Royal Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall where he will be taking the role of Gabriele Adorno in Boccanegra opposite Placido Domingo. Interestingly, this is a role that has always been associated with Domingo, before he opted to take the baritone lead of Boccanegra. He will then return to Malta for his annual concert here.

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. This summer, the line-up is equally stellar, with both Claudio Baglioni and Dionne Warwick enjoying a strong following in Malta.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by celebrated 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 in the concert. Choir training is underway under the guidance of Soprano Gillian Zammit.

A contingency plan is in place to move the concert by a day to Sunday 25th July in case of inclement weather to ensure that both the artistes’ and the Orchestra’s performance are of the highest possible acoustic and technical levels.

Normal standing tickets starting from €35 are available from all Agenda and Exotique outlets and from www.nngpromotions.com. Tickets for the specially designated standing area are available only from Vodafone outlets at €25 each. The concert is supported by Vodafone Malta and Malta International Airport.

Permalink: Joseph Calleja attracting more people to classical music