“Clara is 13 and Xandru is 11 now,” says Joseph, “and they’re both very grounded kids – I admit that I sometimes think I am too hard on them, but I want them to be the best they can be. I am certainly not interested in measuring them against anyone else but I know their potential and want to guide them towards fulfilling it. They’ve got very different personalities, but they share goodness, empathy and a sense of charity. So far there are certainly no plans for them to follow in my footsteps, although they are both very musical. I’d rather they chose their own paths because being an opera singer is very hard and a full-time vocation.”

Speaking about how they spend their time together, Joseph says his family loves to entertain and have friends over. “But we have pretty simple tastes – I enjoy wine with friends, while the kids and I love going to the beach, travelling and taking the dogs for long walks. We’re a very regular family,” he says with a smile.

Their home, a stunning villa in Mellieha, has sprawling views, a lovely garden and even a room dedicated to one of Joseph’s key passions: wine. “I had help from designer Andrew Alexander and architect Joe Cassar, both of whom brought my ideas for this house to life while I was travelling. It’s been a long time coming, but I knew exactly what I wanted – a place where, first and foremost, I could raise Clara and Xandru in comfortable surroundings. It needed to be a home that would give them space to be themselves, whether they want to study, play or relax. I want to give them the best, just like any parent.”

Throughout his career, Joseph has had the pleasure of meeting some truly incredible people – from world leaders like Barack Obama to royalty like Price Charles and The Queen. “It’s an exciting career,” he smiles, “but it does have it downsides, especially as travelling and hotel rooms can be so lonely. Thankfully, my girlfriend Emma travels with me most of the time, as she is my ‘right hand’ and a lawyer by profession, so she assists in many aspects of my work.”

Joseph’s focus is now very much on the next stage of his career – from the premiere of Norma to the release of his new album. “The next five years are booked and sorted, and I will be travelling to every corner of the globe including Asia, North America, Canada and Europe. It’s an exciting time and one that I plan to enjoy, but I also hope to have plenty of time to make it back home to spend time with my girlfriend Emma, Clara and Xandru.”

The full version of this feature appeared in STYLE on Sunday.