Contact: Sunny Mindel/ Edward Skyler (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today honored world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli at a Gracie Mansion breakfast and presented him with a Crystal Apple. Mayor Giuliani was joined by Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, United Nations Commissioner Irene Halligan and Celebration 2000 President Steve Leber.
"As a great fan of opera, I am thrilled that Andrea Bocelli will be performing in New York City as we enter the next Millennium," Mayor Giuliani said. "Having someone of his stature choose our City to perform in on New Year's Eve shows that New York City is not only the entertainment capital of the world, but the cultural capital as well."
Steve Leber, President of Celebration 2000, said, "We're so proud to have an artist of Mr. Bocelli's caliber at the Party of the Century, and we're equally pleased that Mayor Giuliani is recognizing our artist in this special way. Andrea Bocelli could have gone to any city in the world for New Year's Eve but he chose New York."
Andrea Bocelli was born in 1958 in Lajtico, Italy. His passion for music was evident at a young age and he was inspired by great Italian tenors, such as Del Monaco, Gigli and Franco Corelli. His voice has made him an international phenomenon and his album, Romanza, has topped music charts around the world.
Celebration 2000 will be take place at the Jacob Javits Center on
New Year's Eve. It will feature live performances by Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Enrique Igelsias and Tom Jones as well as food and dancing.