Tenor Bocelli Makes First Trip to China

12/01/2003 2:17 PM, AP


Making his first trip to China, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on Monday called for more cultural exchanges as a way of boosting understanding among people.

Events such as his Shanghai visit are "good for music, good for culture and good for people," said Bocelli, who is to perform on Wednesday night at Shanghai's landmark Grand Theater.

"Especially at this time, when the world is so tense and things are so unstable, increasing these sorts of exchanges has special significance for better mutual understanding among people," Bocelli said at a news conference.

Bocelli, blinded by illness at age 12, donned a black silk Chinese tunic for the news conference but said he would probably stick to formal Western dress while performing.

The 45-year-old singer will be accompanied by the renowned Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and said he'll duet with Chinese soprano Huang Ying on "Time to Say Goodbye," his 1996 international hit with Sarah Brightman .

Bocelli, who has sold more than 80 million compact discs worldwide, has added a series of Asian concerts to his crowded touring schedule, including appearances in five Chinese cities.