Chart-topping Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, has performed at major venues all over the world.
But the 52-year old blind singer considers his concert in New York's Central Park one of the highlights.
SOUNDBITE: Andrea Bocelli, singer, saying (Italian):
"Most of the important milestones in my career took place here in New York City. I think one can easily see how so because singing at Madison Square Garden, Avery Fisher Hall, the Metropolitan, these were all things that one would hope for and when one reaches them, it would be an achievement. So now singing in Central Park for me is something that I'm doing for the city and doing for my fans - all the people who have always been coming to my concerts, it's a way for me to give back."
Thousands packed the Great Lawn to see the performance, which included duets with Celine Dion and native New Yorker Tony Bennett, who Bocelli considers a legend.
SOUNDBITE: Andrea Bocelli, singer, saying(Italian):
"I only knew him from his records, but thanks to this duet that he wanted 'Angel in Paradise,' we got to know each other. He actually came to my house. We spent some days together, so I got to know not just the legend, but also the man behind the legend."
The full concert will air on U.S. public broadcaster, PBS, late in November.
Alicia Powell, Reuters.
