Italian singer Claudio Baglioni and British singer Leona Lewis will be taking part in the annual Joseph Calleja concert to be held at the Granaries in Floriana on 18 July. The line-up will also include Welsh base-barritone Bryn Terfel and young Maltese singer Federica Falzon.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, tenor Joseph Calleja said this year's line-up will be one of the best so far.

Claudio Baglioni had already accepted to take part in this concert a few years ago, but personal commitments had led to his withdrawal a few weeks before and he had been replaced by Riccardo Cocciante.

Baglioni had always said that he wanted to make up for his withdrawal and his fans' wait is now over.

Baglioni, who has been on tour for most of the last 12 months after the release of his latest album, has already been in Malta to give concerts, first at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in 2005 and, two years later, at the Valletta Waterfront as part of his O'Scia initiative, which aims to raise awareness on the plight of illegal immigrants.

British singer Leona Lewis rose to fame after winning the third series of X-Factor in 2006.

She released her popular single 'Bleeding Love' in 2007. 

Mr Calleja said the concert will be filmed in HD and broadcast around the world, with millions of viewers expected to watch it. "This is a Maltese product with Maltese artists, with the help of international artists. The future for Malta is cultural tourism," said Mr Calleja.

(Base-barritone Bryn Terfel.)

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the annual event has become a unique selling tool for Malta. The free concert is also a service to the Maltese public. 

The concert will also include the participation of the Joseph Calleja BOV Children's Choir and the National Philarmonic Orchestra. 

The event is being organised by NnG Promotions. The concert is supported by Bank of Valletta, Vodafone, Gasan Mamo and Allied Newspapers.