IT WAS the greatest moment of Andrea Bocelli's career. Sixty thousand fans braved the rain and chill to watch the Italian superstar tenor perform for three hours live in New York's Central Park. He sang arias, Italian popular songs and standards, backed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with guests Tony Bennett and Celine Dion.

“I remember in all the euphoria of the following day, a journalist asked me jokingly if, at that point, they could expect one of my concerts to take place in space, perhaps, or on the moon!” Andrea, 63 next Wednesday, tells me from his Italian seaside villa home.