Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja has been giving concerts in the Czech Republic.

Last Wednesday he was applauded in the Municipal Palace in Prague after singing arias by Verdi, Massenet, Donizetti and Gounod and a less-known aria from the opera Maristella by Giuseppe Pietri.

He was accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Prague directed by Karl Mark Chichon.

Joseph Calleja, who will be 29 in a few days’ time, began his career at the young age of 19. Since then he has launched two CDs and has taken part in Verdi’s Rigoletto at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. He sang for the first time in the Czech Republic four years ago at the Ema Destinova festival in the town of Ceske Budejovice.

He told a press conference before last Wednesday’s recital: “I am at the beginning of my career, but when I came here for the first time I was even younger. I know that the Czech people are very warm, very lovable and hard workers. And I have many friends from the Chamber Choir of Prague who I met at the Rossini festival in Pesaro and also at the Wexford festival in Ireland.

“I have visited Prague many times with my family and also on my own and I love your beautiful country.

“In 1991 it was the second country I had ever visited in my life and I was overwhelmed by its beauty, its culture and the warm welcome given by its people. It may be because the peoples of Malta and the Czech Republic both love life.”

An admirer of Mario Lanza and considered as the successor of Luciano Pavarotti, the young tenor counsels all those who love their voice to treat it well, with vigilance and intelligence. He himself is sticking to the bel canto repertoire and is avoiding all strenuous roles that tax his vocal chords. He can permit this, Radio CZ said, because he is wanted everywhere and he is booked solid for the next five years. “There are many talented singers in the world,” he said, “but few have the chance to be able to choose as I do.