Andrea Bocelli suffers from stage fright

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NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Tuscan-born tenor Andrea Bocelli says he suffers from stage fright, but the increased heart rate and sweaty hands help him be more expressive.

"I'm not that shy. Not in life -- only on the stage. I've often felt stage fright," Bocelli said in an interview in New York with Parade Magazine. "Fear is never useful, because it weakens you. But a certain tension can help you become more expressive onstage."

Bocelli, 53, who lost his sight at age 12 after suffering from congenital glaucoma and a sports injury, recently performed a concert in New York's Central Park. The concert, which also features Celine Dion, will air on PBS Dec. 2.

He said his success singing pop ballads, traditional songs and opera alike has come as a surprise. His 1999 album, "Sacred Arias" is the all-time best-selling album by a classical soloist.

"My company said, joking, 'Probably you will sell this album only to your relatives.' Nobody realized this music would have so much appeal," Bocelli told Parade.