[WATCH] Joseph Calleja’s memory of island is new Air Malta advert

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja makes his pitch for Malta… and a Kinnie with ice

Joseph Calleja
Joseph Calleja

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja has spent his life travelling to every corner of the world to share his immense vocal talent.

"Malta is really my everything.... You cannot possibly be interested in the history of human civilisation and not come to Malta. It still remains one of the most interesting, beautiful, warm, spiritual, historic, places I've ever been to.

"I remember the bells in Naxxar. The beautiful bells chiming especially on Sunday morning... I remember the scent of the festas, I remember the scent of the incense in the processions, I remember the smell in Ħal Qormi that emanated from the bakeries.

"The best bread in the world is baked in Malta. It's only good for three hours after you buy it but it's really the best bread you can find...

"You will not find an island of our proportions, of our size, with our history, with their own language. There is no other island like us. The islands of our size around the world, you don't even know about.

"Eight, nine weeks in a row in a country and I'm walking in the terminal and through the window I see our plane with the Maltese cross and I'm like, 'Oh God, I'm home'. Then when I step on it, I ask for a Kinnie with ice, and then I am home...."