A week of excited gossip came to an end yesterday on Tista’ Tkun Int! when it was revealed that the Italian celebrity due to sing a duet with one of Rachel’s guests was none other than Albano Carrisi, whose heart-warming and catchy hits remain favourites with many Maltese.

Ever since seventeen-year-old Sarah Jane Brincau was introduced to the Tista’ Tkun Int! audience last programme, with the promise of a week’s voice training with Maestro Joe Brown that would climax with a live duet with an Italian celebrity, tongues have been wagging. Who was it going to be? Nek, Eros, Albano or Adriano Celentano? Stunned fans found out only yesterday at the eleventh hour, that making his entrance into the studios was none other than Albano. And the heart-felt duet with the young Sarah-Jane certainly didn’t fail to move the audience.

The Malta Independent caught up with the celebrated singer for a quick chat:

“It’s great for me to come back to Malta – I remember my first time in the late 1960s, when I was struck by the island’s resemblance to Puglia. About my experience on Tista’ Tkun Int!, I was surprised by Sarah Jane’s natural voice. She also happens to be a singularly sweet girl. We had never rehearsed together so it was even more amazing that we pulled this off!”

Speaking about Malta, Albano said “At one time I was even contemplating moving to Malta for good. This was in the 1960s, when in Italy there was chaos. But fate wanted me to do otherwise.”

Albano spent some three days in Malta touring the island and visiting tourist hotspots. He had words of praise for Malta’s safe and serene ambience. “I love Malta. And I must say I’m very fond of Tista’ Tkun Int! now because it gave me the opportunity to come back and also to do a good turn to young Sarah-Jane. It was a very positive experience, one that was also great fun I must admit,” the singer concluded.