As showtime approaches, long lines of auto and pedestrian traffic converge on Madison Square Garden in New York for a concert starring one of the world’s premier opera singers. Fans are arriving from near and far to see and hear Andrea Bocelli, who is making his final appearance in a US tour of sold-out performances.

Backstage, Bocelli studies his song sequence while waiting patiently for all 19,000 seats to become occupied. Aside from that evening’s event, he’s looking forward to the end of a weeks-long dry spell. He strictly abstains from alcoholic beverages during a tour.