DESPITE all the hoopla, the fanfare and the anticipation, opera singer Jos? Carreras' much-anticipated performance here next year was actually the result of a relatively mundane series of events

It was a chance meeting that set plans in motion to have the world-famous tenor appear as part of a two-year long celebration leading up to Bermuda's 500th anniversary in 2005.

Local promoters Buddy and Carol Leinhart-Hill, of Triangle Enterprises, were having lunch at the Sonesta Beach Hotel when a mutual friend introduced them to Karl Hofer, a friend of Mr. Carreras' with extensive experience in the hospitality industry.

"We were introduced to him as a man with a great idea," said Mr. Hill, "and it was suggested that the three of us could possibly bring it into being."

The idea, to bring Mr. Carreras - one of the Three Tenors - to perform in Bermuda, was one he immediately accepted, Mr. Hill added.

Mr. Hofer, founder and president of KH International, has successfully opened a number of major hotels in New York, including the Rhiga Royal where Mr. Carreras performed at the opening. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have extensive experience in marketing and advertising in both the music industry and music performance. As a promotion team, said Mr. Hofer, they were a perfect match.

"I had lived in Bermuda before, about 35, 40 years ago and so I always had a soft spot for Bermuda," he said. "I met my wife here, spent my honeymoon here and lived here for two years.

"At the same time I'd had Mr. Carreras perform for me before and it really didn't take a genius to bring those two things together. Right from the very first moment there was a good vibration there; a good feeling. And that's how it came about."

Spanish-born Mr. Carreras is acknowledged as one of the greatest opera singers in the world. By the time he was 28, he had made his debut at the world's four leading opera houses. Today, at the age of 55, he has gone on to achieve repeated successes.

With a potential worldwide audience of between 200 and 400 million people, the group feel the airing of the performance will do wonders for Bermuda as a tourist destination. Indeed, it was accepted as such when the idea was presented to the late Tourism Minister, David Allen.

"One of the important ingredients is the vision of David Allen," said Mr. Hill. "Right away, he could see the value of it, especially with Bermuda's quincentennial anniversary coming up. He set up a dinner meeting with representatives from (the Department of) Tourism, and everything began to take shape. As we worked towards a contract, (Works Minister) Alex Scott was also instrumental. He could also see what this could mean to Bermuda and helped in every way he could.

"We think this will be a signature event for Bermuda. There's a certain allure that makes people think the island is a little magical. It's a special concert and I think, if we weren't Bermuda, it would've been pretty difficult to get Mr. Carreras to come here."

It was hoped, said Mr. Hofer, that this would be only the first of many such concerts.

"We already have serious ideas," he said. "We're hoping this will be a successful event."

Jos? Carreras will perform at the Maritime Museum Keepyard in Dockyard on April 4 of next year.