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Tenor Paul Asciak passes away, aged 92
Asciak performed in several productions, locally and overseas, and helped hone tenor Joseph Calleja's unique voice
Asciak, pictured here in 1959, performed to critical acclaim both locally and overseas
Celebrated local tenor Paul Asciak has passed away, aged 92. He is credited with having helped tenor Joseph Calleja begin his career.
Asciak made his debut at the Radio City Opera House in Malta in 1946, playing ‘Turiddu’ in Mascagni’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’. He went on to study in Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera. He trained under Mro Luigi Ricci and Riccardo Picozzi in Rome and in 1951, played ‘Radames’ in the theatre’s Spoleto production of ‘Aida’.
Asciak performed alongside a number of celebrated singers, including Anita Cerquetti, Peter Glossop, Benvenuto Franci and Maria Callas, as well as a number of acclaimed conductors, throughout his career. He retired in 1961.
He joined the Education Department in 1961 and retired as Head of Department of Music in 1984. In the meantime he was also Director of Music at St Edward's College between 1967 and 1973. Between 1965 and 1988, he was also Honorary Representative of Trinity College of Music, London, for Malta and Gozo.
He went on to 'discover' Joseph Calleja, training him in the tradition of fine singing and honing Calleja's unique style and voice.
