Thousands of opera fans were left disappointed when Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli cancelled his sell-out Birmingham concert at the last minute.

Fans were already in their seats for last night’s concert at the NIA when the announcement was made that the show was to be postponed. It is the first time the singer has ever had to cancel a concert due to a throat infection.

The performance was one of only four UK dates scheduled this year. Tickets for the concert had been priced between £45 and £120.

The audience was told it had become apparent during afternoon rehearsals that he would be unable to sing. Bocelli was said to be ‘devastated’ by the decision.

A statement released by Bocelli’s management said it was with “extreme regret” that the concert had to be postponed. It has been rescheduled for November 4.

Management said the 51-year-old Tuscan, who has been blind since childhood, had been advised by doctors not to sing after afternoon rehearsals and his warm-up.

The statement said: “This is the first time that Andrea has had to postpone a concert in these circumstances and he has asked me to convey to each and every one of you who has bought a ticket how very, very sorry he is for letting you down.”

On hearing about the cancellation, the audience responded with applause, although some concert-goers were frustrated an announcement had not been made earlier and that the box office was not opened to take queries once the announcement was made.

Concert and car park tickets will be valid for the rescheduled date but anyone unable to attend can apply for a refund from their point of purchase by October 19.

Bocelli has sold over 65 million albums worldwide in a recording career which began in 1992. He famously appeared at the Royal Variety Performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome in 1999 at the personal invitation of the Queen.