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Meet The Maltese Tenor Who Used To Make People Go Insane In The 1950s

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Oreste Kirkop’s opulent and passionate voice enchanted his audiences all over the world. He was an international superstar from Ħamrun and a famous tenor with a sublime voice. You might not remember him though… because his heyday was a good six decades ago.

Kirkop was already shaking up the island back in the 40s with his performances at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta, sending chills down the spine of anyone who had the fortune to hear him perform.

Back in 1948, Oreste was performing the Rigoletto at the Manoel Theatre, when a member of the audience was so impressed by his superb act that he asked Kirkop there and than to substitute an Italian tenor. Talk about quick decisions.

When he took up this substitute part, his onstage charisma swept literal crowds off their feet.

His presence on the stage mesmerised his audience so much that he instantly stole the show and paved his way into international stardom.

When he later on gave his rendition of La Donna é Mobile, Kirkop drove the crowd insane. People went so berserk that they did not only clap, but also stomped their feet as he rang his top notes, sending waves upon waves of beautiful tunes upon his audience.

He literally had to stop mid-performance due to the noise the crowd was making.

After some time, Kirkop was invited to London to join the acclaimed Maltese baritone Joseph Satariano on stage.

Kirkop was already past his 150th performance by this time and his successful audition secured him a place at the Grand Theatre in Leeds.

People started calling him ‘the echo of Caruso’ — he forged an amazing career for himself, and his commanding stage presence kept on grew in a steady pace.

Kirkop joined the Cavalleria Rusticana, Bohéme and Tosca in the 50s, grabbing The Daily Express’ critics attention.

When they saw Oreste perform, The Daily Express wrote “Good tenors are scarce everywhere and worth their weight in gold in Britain. Mr Kirkop’s tone is solid and full. It has meat on its bones.”

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In between roles at Opera Houses, Oreste made regular appearances on radio and television stations including the BBC and Paramount Pictures. Oreste soon became the first ever Maltese tenor to have a major role at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. People went utterly mad when he sang, and often times he had to stop mid-performance — the clapping and cheering of the crowds was so excessive that he simply could not continue.

The Daily Express once again noted on this fact by writing “Kirkop, superb at the opera, had to halt which each aria was applauded, something that does not often happen at Covent Garden”.

Kirkop eventually retired for a quiet life in Malta with his family in the 1960s, at the young age of 37. By this time, he had been named Malta’s singing ambassador. He died later on, in 1998.

If you’re curious to learn more about this Maltese legend, you can still enjoy movies Kirkop starred in like The Vagabond King and The NBC Television Opera Theatre.

Tag someone who’d fall in love with Oreste!

READ NEXT: Did You Know: Malta’s Original Joseph Calleja Was A Star In The 1920s

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