Andrea Bocelli (Tony Reed/Splash News)
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The World’s Most Famous Arena is getting a run for its money.
Renowned Italian classical vocalist Andrea Bocelli will shun Madison Square Garden next holiday season to perform instead at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, The Post has learned.
“It’s always a pleasure for me to play in New York, but I’m particularly excited to perform in Brooklyn for what will be my only 2012 performance in the city that has given me such affection,” Bocelli, known as “The Fourth Tenor,” said yesterday in a statement.
Bocelli had played nine straight holiday shows at the Garden, but has booked Dec. 5, 2012, at the Barclays Center — becoming the biggest name yet to be lured away from MSG to the future home of the NBA’s Nets.
The Brooklyn arena will be christened in September with a series of concerts by team co-owner and rap icon Jay-Z, who is also expected to use his clout to draw big-name music artists to Brooklyn.
Experts expect the city’s two biggest venues to regularly battle over major acts.
Bocelli, the biggest-selling solo artist in classical-music history, will discuss details of his 2012 tour tonight in a television special on PBS.
Borough President Marty Markowitz crowed, “It’s only natural” that Bocelli would take his show to “the big stage in Brooklyn.”
“Look out Manhattan!” he shouted. “Not only will the Brooklyn Nets wipe the floor with your Knicks, but the Barclays Center is going to give MSG, or as we call it in Brooklyn, ‘Manhattan Square Garden,’ a real run for its money.”
And Barclays Center brass now have their eyes on landing another huge prize: heavyweight-boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Sources said arena officials are expected to be in Germany attending Klitschko’s Dec. 10 bout with former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck.
Klitschko, a Ukrainian, would be a big draw for southern Brooklyn’s massive Russian immigrant community, if he were to agree to fight in Brooklyn.
The Barclays Center has already locked up 174 events for its inaugural year and officials anticipate the total growing to 220.
This includes the popular Coaches Vs. Cancer college hoops tournament, which is moving from MSG to Barclays Center next year, as well boxing, circus, equestrian and other shows.
MSG officials tried to downplay the turf war.
“While we always respect any competition, the Garden will always be the Garden,” MSG officials said in a statement.
“The Garden hosts over 400 events annually and has been a destination for New Yorkers and visitors to the city for over 130 years.”
Nets and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said “it speaks volumes about Brooklyn that we could get one of the world’s greatest entertainers” in Bocelli “to perform here.”
Neither MSG nor Barclays Center officials would discuss financial reasons that might have led to Bocelli choosing to perform in Brooklyn.
However, industry sources pointed out that MSG’s availability is now limited with the Garden set to close the next two summers to complete its $1 billion face-lift.
They also said the novelty of the Barclays Center’s opening next year might have played a role in Bocelli’s choice, adding that his decision doesn’t mean Bocelli won’t play the Garden after 2012.