Internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli is preparing for his first Highland fling.
Fresh from a performance outside Buckingham Palace, he is heading for the Caledonian Thistle football stadium with guest star Nicola Benedetti.
A specially made suit he will don for the concert will later be auctioned for charity.
Bocelli is excited by his first trip to the Highlands, a place he already loves for its history, beauty and poetry.
Familiar with Scotland’s finest writers, he has quoted Burns believing his heart is also “in the Highlands”.
The Italian star will be suitably attired – in Caley Thistle’s own tartan.
The club’s thrilled chief executive Scot Gardiner said: “It’ll be amazing, it’s ridiculous. I can’t wait. I’ve watched him, obviously, for years and years and years.
“To see him walk on stage here wearing a Caley Thistle tartan suit, it’s ridiculous. It’s amazing and ridiculous in equal measure, for us.”
Leading Scots designer Mike Lemetti, who previously introduced Bocelli to tartan, was commissioned to create the suit.
Lemetti, who has produced an official Italian tartan approved by the country’s government, said: “It’s not my tartan but I’m still very proud to be involved and to be asked.”
The designed already has an A-list clientele from Hollywood star Al Pacino to Michael Buble and the Pope.
He is more hesitant when it comes to this weekend’s other Caley Thistle stadium booking – Duran Duran.
“I think they’ve got their own unique style, if you know what I mean,” he said.
“However, once they see this suit maybe they’ll go ‘oh, yeah’. So, you never know.”
Karen Duff of the Highland Hospice, a beneficiary of Bocelli’s Inverness concert, said: “It’s a big thing for us.
“We’re a charity partner for the concert and there’s a big buzz around the city.
“He’s such a big star, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Bocelli will only have his specially tailored suit for a brief spell. It is to be auctioned online afterwards to boost the charity’s coffers.
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