Celebrated Maltese tenor Paul Asciak passed away last night. He was 92.
His famous student, Joseph Calleja, wrote on Facebook:
Paul Asciak passed away and his is a death that I won’t really accept or register for a long time. His trumpet like voice is legendary but it is his gentlemanly demeanor and caring tuition and mentoring that I shall miss most.
Posted by Joseph Calleja on Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Update on the funeral mass for Paul Asciak from Joseph Calleja:
Thank you all so much for your messages both here and received privately. The funeral mass will be held at St Paul’s Church, Valletta, this coming Saturday at 2pm.
Posted by Joseph Calleja on Thursday, April 23, 2015
Richard England writes in Times of Malta:
[blockquote]With the passing of Paul Asciak, Malta has lost one of its most outstanding artistic personalities. Apart from his musical qualities, Paul was the finest of gentlemen, always elegant and exuding a charming personality. I personally remain eternally grateful for his having enriched my life with his art, tutorship and most of all his loving friendship. He was indeed a personality who did our island proud.[/blockquote]Read further: Paul Asciak – Ora è per sempre addio
MCAST Institute of Art & Design documentary on Paul Asciak:
Read about Paul Asciak’s career in our biography:
Paul Asciak was born in Valletta, Malta on January 28, 1923. His talent showed early enough and he spent years of singing in the famed St James Choir, Valletta. He started taking his first singing lessons with Maltese tenor Nicolò Baldacchino. He made his first operatic debut as Turiddu in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana at the Radio City Opera House in Malta on December 8, 1946. In January 1950 after being coached by Mro Luigi Cantoni…
[button link=”https://www.operavivra.com/artists/tenors/paul-asciak/” size=”small” variation=”red” align=”right” target=”blank”]Read about Paul Asciak[/button]