The making of a Maltese tenor - Paul Asciak's meteoric career (part five)

Abstract

Paul Asciak, back again at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, interpreted the part of Don Jose to Mafalda Masini's Carmen, a part Paul had to share with the Italian tenor Umberto Borsa on account of his Malta engagement. Soon afterwards Paul moved to the Theatre Royal, also in Dublin, where he took part in "Christmas Chimes", a Jack Cruise Show. According to the Irish Times this show is referred to as " a seasonal spectacular as it is both seasonal and spectacular. As a production it has all the excellence of elaborate scenery, gay costumes and special effects one has come to expect from T.R. Royle presentations. The imported Acts include "a fine tenor from Malta", Paul Asciak who appeared in operatic scenes." The Dublin Evening News records that "apart from the scintillating Cruise sketches, which are uproariously funny, the show scores heavily on the vocal side with the famous Maltese tenor Paul Asciak being applauded to the echo for his magnificent rendering of some delightful operatic arias". And the Evening World notes that "the singing of the Maltese tenor Paul Asciak is, once again, a wonderful treat."