Most of the Chinese press agrees the concert will be "a historic event for all music lovers worldwide."

Lucianno Pavarotti, 66, Placido Domingo, 60, and Jose Carreras, 55, will gather again for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in Paris.

The extravaganza is likely to be the last one held by the trio.

Since 1985, the three have visited Beijing separately, but this will be their first joint performance.

The three say the vitality created by the nation's reforms and opening up as well as the people's enthusiasm for the arts has inspired them to sing in Beijing on June 23.

The concert coincides with the official Olympic Day and forms part of the city's drive to win the bid for the 2008 Olympics.

The grand event to be held in the Wumen Gate Square of the Forbidden City can be regarded as a vote of support for the Olympic Games from all Chinese people and their friends around the world.

Over the past three decades, Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras, have become international stars, captivating audiences and popularizing opera by bridging the gap between classical and popular music.

Their rare joint performances are always galas of world operas and modern classics.

The tenors only perform together in aid of sports, charity, environmental protection and world peace.

Eleven years ago, they first performed in Rome at the closing ceremony of the 1990 World Cup.

It marked Carreras' return to the stage after his battle with leukemia.

The concert was watched by 1.5 billion TV viewers around the world.

The tenors reunited for the 1994 World Cup in Los Angeles, with a TV audience of 2 billion.

The three came together yet again for the 1998 World Cup at the La Place de Trocadero in the shadow of Eiffel Tower in Paris.

About 100,000 attended the concert and 1.2 billion people from 110 countries watched the live broadcasting.

The Forbidden City concert will be a combined effort between the Three Tenors, Tibor Rudas (their agent), China National Culture & Art Company (CNCAC), the organizer, Beijing municipal government, and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee.

Not surprisingly, the tickets for such a splendid gala are expensive.

According to CNCAC, the concert will cost several million US dollars to stage.

It is expected to draw an audience of 100,000 people.

Tickets, divided into 23 classes, range from US$280 to US$2,000.

CNCAC is considering having three Chinese sopranos perform with the three tenors.

After the concert, a cocktail party at the Great Hall of the People is being organized where three famous Chinese tenors, including Dai Yuqing, will sing to liven up the party.

Tibor Rudas was impressed when he heard Dai sing during an inspection tour in Beijing last month.

(China Daily 05/22/2001)