Interview: Opera singer Andrea Bocelli

He has enjoyed considerable success in the crossover charts, but he's not resting on his laurels as he aims to leave a lasting mark on the music world.

He said: "Reality has far exceeded all my dreams, but this is not the time to dream. It is instead a time to see through a great many more plans and, above all, do everything possible to leave a good memory for posterity, so that I can be remembered as a man first as well as an artist."

Bocelli, 51, sang at The O2 in 2007, shortly after it opened. He enjoyed the experience so much he was keen to return for this year's autumn tour.

He said: "The best thing I remember from that night, as from so many others, was the warmth of the audience which welcomed me. It is something one does not forget."

Fans will enjoy plenty of operatic favourites in November, as well as duets with special guest artists. Sharing the stage with other singers is one of Bocelli's great joys.

He said: "Very simply, I love to share the pleasure and responsibility of the stage with talented colleagues because I love voices and I consider it a great privilege to be able to listen to them closely without a filter of any sort.

"For these shows my aim is to take that eternally beautiful repertoire traditional of the Italian tenor around the world. It spans from operatic arias to great ballads and Christmas melodies as well as a few other selected pieces which people associate with my voice."

Although he has a tour, including his O2 date, lined up Bocelli turns out to be a reluctant plan-maker, preferring to live for the moment.

He said: "Many years ago I learned from my mentor that one cannot make serious plans more than 24 hours in advance and I have always followed this precious advice. It's also matched by the words of a famous Italian film director who once said 'we have many plans for the future, it's a pity that very often our future has such different plans for us.'"

Being blind since the age of 12 has been no bar to Bocelli's rise through the singing ranks. With record sales of over 70million records he is well aware of the need to look after his voice.

He said: "The voice is an instrument like the others, with the difference of being made of flesh and blood. This means it requires application and daily practice - a couple of hours of vocalization every day is absolutely essential.

"Then you have to spend the time it takes to study the repertoire. And you must not forget to take care of the way you live every day, basically in the same way as is required of any athlete in any field. There is plenty to do, but it is always a pleasure if it is fuelled by passion."

Bocelli had the following advice for anyone considering a career change and taking up professional singing.

He said: "The first piece of advice is to check things out in practice to establish whether a great love of singing is in effect the result of a true talent.

"It must be others who ask and beg you to sing and not you who beg others to listen. If you have a great love of singing, supported by others' fondness for your voice, then it is worth making every effort, of making every sacrifice, to achieve your goal.

"A great voice will easily find teachers who are willing to help a struggling young talent, and the ways of the Lord are infinite."

Andrea Bocelli will be at The O2 on November 10. For tickets visit theo2.co.uk.