Andrea admits admiration for the Fab Four.

Byline: CATHERINE JONES 

HE'S PERFORMED at some of the world's top opera houses and in front of monarchs and Pontiffs.

Now Andrea Bocelli, Italian singing superstar, is on the way to the banks of the Mersey and he says he can't wait.

The 51-year-old will appear at the ECHO Arena in one of only four UK arena dates.

But it's unlikely he will get to explore the city, despite admitting he's been a Beatles fan since he was a child.

"The life of a singer is a strange one, perhaps comparable to that of an athlete," he tells me.

"There's hardly ever time to visit the cities I go to. "Singing demands rest and concentration so I've become an expert in hotel living, where I've learned to manage my time, reading, listening to music, studying my new repertoire, playing musical instruments and so on."

That's not to say Andrea isn't looking forward to his appearance at the ECHO arena, although he explains each concert is very different.

"The acoustics of the place, the kind of audience, the time of year, the type of orchestra and many other factors are all causes for reflection which determine my choice of repertoire," he reveals.

But one thing is constant. "I've always suffered from stage fright from the very earliest times when I'd perform before a small audience which my singing teacher would organise for his students at the end of the year.

"My stage fright hasn't diminished over time. Today I feel a very strong sense of responsibility weighing on my shoulders, as I'm keenly aware of the expectations of my huge audiences, and this makes me nervous."

It's fair to say though the singer hasn't let these nerves get in the way of what has become a stellar career.

He was born in rural Tuscany in 1958, the son of a farmer. He always had problems with his eyes and at the age of 12 he lost his sight But this, something Andrea doesn't like to talk about, has never held him back.

Although he studied to be a lawyer and practiced law for a year, he'd been passionate about music from an early age - playing piano, flute, harp, guitar among others and of course, singing.

Music won out and Andrea emerged as a vocal phenomenon in the early 1990s after taking part in auditions held by Italian rock star Zucchero for tenors to make a demo tape with him of the song Miserere.

The rest is history with Andrea going on to become one of the most successful artists of all time, selling more than 65 million albums, recording seven complete operas and releasing more than a dozen hit records.

Earlier this year he was inducted into the Hollywood Hall of Fame, with the multi-million selling, multi-award winning tenor the only artist to receive recognition for his sell-out appearances across the globe.

Next month he arrives in Liverpool, home of another musical phenomenon.

"I've known the Beatles since I was a child when their music was played everywhere," he tells me. "I was always a huge fan of classical music, that's to say I was never a major pop music fan, but as I got older I understood the full force of the Beatles phenomenon.

"I learned to love many of their songs which have become true classics in every sense of the word."

It's unlikely Andrea's fans will hear any Lennon and McCartney at the arena however. Instead the concert will showcase his recent album Incanto, a collection of famous Neapolitan love songs.

"The British public is a very discerning, knowledgeable and respectful audience," he adds.. Andrea Bocelli appears at the arena on Friday, November 6. Tickets are pounds 45-pounds 120 on 0844 800 3680.