In the grounds of Stormont Castle tonight the harsh tones of disputing politicians will make way for the operatic grandeur of one of the world's greatest tenors, Luciano Pavarotti. Returning to Belfast for the first time since he sang Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly at the Grand Opera House in 1963, Pavarotti is expected to draw a crowd of up to 12,000, some of whom will have paid £85 for a ticket.
Il Maestro will make his entry on a golf buggy, designed for him to cover as much as possible of the stage, 170ft long and 80ft wide.
The concert starts at 7.45 p.m. and is expected to last over two hours. Pavarotti will be supported by the Italian soprano Ms Carmela Remigio and the Ulster Orchestra. The 63-year-old tenor is rumoured to be kept on a strict diet by the new love in his life, Nicoletta Mantovani. He says the new regime has made his voice better than ever. A spokesman for the organisers, Aiken Promotions, said the weather forecast for the open-air event was very promising. "We hope people will be able to enjoy Mr Pavarotti's wonderful voice in the beautiful grounds of Stormont on a lovely late-summer's evening," Mr John McGuigan said.
Mr McGuigan is asking people, if it does rain, to leave their umbrellas at home so they will not spoil the view of others. The organisers are also keen for concert-goers to use the park-and-ride facilities provided as there will be a traffic exclusion zone around Stormont. There will be three car-parks at Campbell College, the Tesco store at Knocknagoney and Dundonald Ice Bowl from where courtesy buses will run to and from the grounds.