Michael and Pavarotti double act

Michael will join Pavarotti in a rare public appearance

Pop singer George Michael is to team up with Luciano Pavarotti to perform a duet at the tenor's annual charity concert.

The two stars from opposite poles of the music spectrum will sing Sir Elton John's 1974 hit Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.

Michael, 36, also had a number one success with the song in 1991.

Pavarotti's high-profile charity event will take place in his hometown of Modena in Italy on Tuesday.

Other acts will include the Eurythmics, Aqua and Enrique Iglesias. Another unlikely collaboration will also take place between Pavarotti and British band Skunk Anansie on their track You'll Follow Me Down.

Pavarotti has held the charity concert for the last seven years

This is the seventh year the 64-year-old tenor has held the benefit concert. This time, proceeds will go to children's charities.

A number of young beneficiaries from Cambodia and Tibet are also set to perform at the concert which boasts the support of the 70-strong Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana.

When Michael gets up on stage to join Pavarotti it will be one of his rare public appearances in the last few years.

Last year, he sung at a concert in memory of Linda McCartney. This week he was a guest at the premiere of the British movie Maybe Baby in London.

The charity event will also mark his first live performance in Italy.

Michael's association with the country's opera star, however, goes back to last year when he recorded Miss Sarajevo for his Songs From The Last Century album - a track originally done by Pavarotti and U2.

Skin from Skunk Anansie: The band will perfom an unlikely duet

The celebrated Italian tenor became a household name when his rendition of Nessun Dorma was used as the soundtrack for TV coverage of the World Cup in 1990.

He is now into his 40th performing season and will celebrate his career landmark with a concert at New York's Madison Square Garden in September.

Before that, next week's event will be attended by many prestigious guests including the Duchess of York and the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will also deliver a message of peace for the new millennium.