Andrea Bocelli and Wife Veronica Spark Bidding War Over Trip To His Hometown

Andrea Bocelli and his wife know how to have a good time for a good cause.

The world-renowned Italian tenor, 67, and wife Veronica Berti Bocelli, 41, attended the Denyce Graves Foundation Harvest Moon Gala in New York on Oct. 6, emceed by Deborah Roberts. Bocelli was one of several honorees of the evening, performing selections from Puccini’s La Bohème.

Speaking to the crowd before he started to sing, Bocelli praised Graves, best known for her iconic role in the opera Carmen, as “really a great big friend of mine” and called their work together “an incredible experience that I keep place in my heart.”

“I could say many things, but as I said before, my English isn’t really well. So I’ll just try to do something for you, the only thing that I can do, it’s better to sing something for you.”

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After coughing and clearing his throat during the evening, he warned the audience, “I hope to do well because you know, yesterday I had a concert at the Met and my voice is a little tired, but I’ll do my best.”

What followed was a rousing performance, in which he collaborated with three other opera singers, dazzling the audience. Bocelli also contributed to the gala’s auction to benefit the nonprofit organization, anchored at the intersection of social justice, American history, and the arts.

The package, The Bocelli Experience: Welcome to Tuscany, Teatro Del Silenzio 2026, included four tickets for the Teatro del Silenzio show, four seats for the Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s charity dinner at the venue, ahead of the performance, and of course, a meet and greet with Bocelli.

Anthony Scaramucci put on an animated display while attempting to win the VIP experience with the Bocellis in Tuscany, but ultimately bowed out for the winner, who paid $24,000 to take home the prize.

In November, PEOPLE caught up with Bocelli and celebrated the special connection he shares with Veronica.

“I think that at the foundation of every relationship that can work over time, it’s a matter of chemistry,” Andrea, 66, tells PEOPLE exclusively. He added, “If there’s no chemistry, it’s very difficult to live together the way we do.”

In addition to chemistry as a strong foundation, Andrea believes that marriage is an “ongoing process.”

“Both people must make the other person happy. So we work constantly to make each other happy,” Andrea said. “Love is like a fireplace. We must feed, renew wood and we have to keep the flame alive.”