As Saturday 16 December draws nearer, rehearsals for Andrea Bocelli’s much awaited concert gather serious momentum.

Having finalised the programme for the concert in collaboration with the organisers RPL Ltd, Bocelli’s conductor Mro Carlo Bernini has been discussing the music arrangements and rehearsing with soprano Lydia Caruana as well as the National Orchestra which will be accompanying Bocelli in his concert.

The programme for the concert includes a pleasant mix of classic and contemporary and will comprise arias from Verdi and Puccini as well as some of the more popular compositions, well loved by the local public such as his international hits Time to say Goodbye and Because We Believe.

RPL Directors Anton Tabone and Amabile Zammit have expressed their satisfaction at the professional way in which things are unfolding. “The excitement and anticipation seems to be intensifying with the nearing of the concert date. This increases our determination and that of Bocelli’s own technical crew, to produce the best possible concert. The concert is a perfect prospect for the approaching Christmas season.”

Andrea Bocelli will be travelling to Malta from New York where he will be performing at the renowned Madison Square Gardens to an expected 25,000 audience. He will fly to Malta on a private jet on the day of the concert.

RPL Ltd have confirmed that sales in all areas of the auditorium have exceeded all expectations and those wishing to attend the concert would do well to purchase their tickets as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment.

Tickets for the concert, to be held at the Malta Convention Centre, Ta’ Qali, are available from www.maltaticket.com, all Maltapost branches in Malta and Gozo and Exotique outlets. Prices start from Lm20, Lm35 and Lm50. Also on sale are a select number of tickets of Lm100 from Diamonds International, in Valletta and Luxe Pavillion, Portomaso which will include an after-concert dinner at the Hilton Hotel in the presence of Andrea Bocelli, together with reserved parking facilities at the concert venue and at the Portomaso car park. All tickets for this much awaited concert are seated.

The concert is sponsored by HSBC Bank (Malta), Malta International Airport (MIA), the Maltacom Group and Hilton (Malta). Other supporting sponsors include Coca-Cola, the Malta Tourism Authority, Diamonds International and Air Malta.