One of the world's most celebrated tenors, Andrea Bocelli, says he has travelled a long way to deliver a special performance in Auckland tonight.
The Italian tenor, who lost his eyesight as a teenager, will perform at Vector Arena with guest Australian songstress Delta Goodrem, whom he invited to join him on stage after years of admiring her "beautiful, rich and naturally agile voice".
The 55-year-old, along with his wife Veronica and their young daughter, Virginia, will spend just two days in the country before continuing on to perform five Australian concerts.
The family, accompanied by their entourage, had spent days travelling from their home in Italy before touching down yesterday afternoon.
"I am very happy to be here," he said. "New Zealand is so far away from everywhere and to travel here so far away I would really like to leave a pleasant message here after my concert."