And crafting a huge fan base in the process.
1. Joseph Calleja
The Maltese tenor of international fame has travelled all around the world for his art, and performed with stars from all corners of the globe, including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, Zucchero and Lucia Dalla. When Joseph Calleja hosts his concert every summer, locals and tourists turn up in droves, and this year will be no different when he shares the stage again with star guest Andrea Bocelli on 24th August at the Granaries in Floriana.
2. Miriam Gauci
A seasoned soprano, Miriam Gauci has been performing on the international stage for at least three decades. From La Scala in Milan to the Met in New York and many more in between, she’s highly in demand, and will be playing the lead role in Manon Lescaut on 6th April at Teatru Aurora in Gozo.
3. Gillian Zammit
Soprano Gillian Zammit is often credited for having trained many of Malta’s up-and-coming opera stars, but also has a glittering career of her own as a versatile performer with a repertoire that ranges from Baroque to 20th Century opera. She’s also worked with many established international artists, including Andrea Bocelli and Emma Kirkby.
4. Cliff Zammit Stevens
The talented Cliff Zammit Stevens is a force to be reckoned with, and his annual concert in Malta is another permanent fixture on the island’s cultural calendar. Last year, Cliff celebrated 10 years of fabulous concerts with his largest solo event yet, featuring the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and pop sensation Ira Losco, where they performed a beautiful version of popular track, Xemx.
5. Nicola Said
Nicola Said has been passionate about music and singing since her youth, and has gone on to carve a successful operatic career as a spell-binding soprano with a real flair for bringing characters to life. In 2018, Nicola gave a spectacular performance as the title role of Lucia in Fulham Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and has also shared the stage with global stars, including tenor Joseph Calleja.
6. Claire Ghigo
Mezzo soprano Clare Ghigo has reprised many esteemed roles throughout her career, including Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Carmen in Bizet's Carmen and Saja in Maltese opera Aħna Refuġjati. Clare also forms part of a harp trio, together with soprano Gillian Zammit and harpist Britt Arend, who have performed successful recitals in Frankfurt, Berlin and beyond.
7. Francesca Aquilina
Soprano Francesca Aquilina has an angelic voice and powerful personality on stage, perfectly illustrated in her interpretation of Aida last September, which she performed in Malta and the Netherlands together with Opera Spanga and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Francesca is also passionate about musical theatre and coaches youngsters in voice and drama.
8. Nico Darmanin
Maltese tenor Nico Darmanin has amassed a vast repertoire in Bel Canto and performed a range of romantic songs and operas by Rossini, Bellini, Fauré and Debussy among others and on many an international stage. The tenor has also performed with a slew of opera stars, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Thomas Allen and Mirella Freni.
9. Marvic Monreal
The Maltese mezzo-soprano who is based in London started her opera and classical music training with Gillian Zammit as a young teen, and has since performed far and wide in prestigious concerts, including alongside Sir Bryn Terfel and Joseph Calleja at the tenor’s annual summer concert in Malta.
10. Amy Marie Borg
This teenage Maltese opera singer made headlines when she got a standing ovation, and four yesses, in the auditions stage of Britain’s Got Talent that saw her through to the semi-finals. Although her Britain’s Got Talent journey ended there, big things may be in store for this young starlet with Maltese roots.