Legendary tenor José Carreras will premiere his stunning new show at the Royal Albert Hall in May: a very personal, intimate career retrospective from one of the world's greatest ever opera stars. This follows his triumphant return to the stage with the new opera El Juez in season 2014/15.
 
A Life in Music will take fans on a unique musical journey, as José sings the songs that have influenced and defined his life, from the tunes he loved as a boy to the arias and songs he performed as one of the famous Three Tenors, alongside Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
 
José Carreras said: "I am incredibly excited about presenting my new show at the Royal Albert Hall. For me this will be a very special occasion to share all of the music that means the most to me."
 
"There will be 'greatest hits' and many special surprises, as I celebrate A Life in Music. I hope you can join me on May 15th for what promises to be an incredible evening."
 
The show, which is in London for one night only, will see the Grammy and Emmy award-winning classical superstar accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as he revisits many of his all time favourite pieces."
 
Lucy Noble, Director of Events at the Royal Albert Hall, said: "We always strive to bring the world's most popular and respected artists to the Hall, and there are very few as beloved or renowned than the extraordinary José Carreras, whose genius has thrilled the world for generations.
 
"It is a tremendous honour for us to play host to the world premiere of José's first ever career retrospective: a veritable wish list of classics for any fan of his incomparable work – or of the classical world in general."
 
José Carreras has made well over 80 recordings, including 50 complete operas, and has sold more than 85 million records. He has performed in every major opera house in the world, and has been awarded doctorates from 16 universities for his services to music.
 
A Life in Music will include opera, operetta, musical numbers, music from the Mediterranean and songs from the Belle Époque.
 
"This is my personal selection of arias and songs that have been special to me at different times through my long career," he said. "It is an ode to life because in this music is the passion, the emotion, a feeling in my heart and soul that I attempt to express with my voice."
 
"It is always very special for me when I perform in London. I am really looking forward to singing at the Royal Albert Hall once more as it is one of the most special places to perform in the world. I plan to make it a wonderful evening full of great music together with all of my British friends."
 
It will be José's first headline appearance at the Royal Albert Hall since 2008, when he starred in a gala concert in aid of The José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation* and Mencap.
 
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 2nd October. Visit royalalberthall.com.
 
* In 1987, José was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and given a 1 in 10 chance of survival. Since making a full recovery following an extensive course of treatment, Jose has performed around the world for the last decade and has established the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation which began in Barcelona and now has branches in the United States, Switzerland and Germany.