TWO of the greatest voices in the world are joining forces for the first time.

The nation's leading musical theatre star Michael Ball and the UK's favourite tenor Alfie Boe are to record a brand new album as well as taking to the stage for a UK headline Tour.

The Together tour will take the duo to 18 of the country's best music venues, including three South Coast dates this winter.

Tickets go on sale on Friday for concerts at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre on November 6, Bournemouth International Centre on November 5 and Portsmouth Guildhall on November 8.

The album Together is to be released in October and will feature tunes from the greatest Broadway shows as well as classic songs both Alfie and Michael have always wanted to record.

Having first met ten years ago, performing together in Kismet at the London Coliseum, the stars became lifelong friends. That same year, Michael Ball made history as the first musical theatre star to be given a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall's BBC Proms, and asked Alfie Boe to join him to perform at the classical music festival.

This instant personal connection and professional mutual admiration makes for the perfect pairing and, to the delight of their hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, is finally realised with this compelling collaboration.

Michael Ball said: “It’s been my experience that there is only one thing I enjoy more than working with someone whose talent I admire and who constantly challenges themselves to try new things and keeps getting better, therefore making me work harder and try to be better, and that is to work with someone who makes me laugh, has my back and is a real friend. With Alfie I think I've hit the jackpot. This is going to be such a great experience for us and hopefully the audiences....bring it on!”.

Alfie Boe added: “My job provides me with great opportunities and none more so than this.The chance to perform with an artist, whose work and talent I've admired for years, is such a great honour for me. Michael has inspired so many singers, including myself, to push themselves further in the crossover field. My philosophy on crossover is more about crossing over the audience than the music, and Michael proved years ago that this was possible. His mainstream appeal in contemporary, musical theatre and classical is evident in his history. A great artist, a fabulous singer, and a wonderful friend."

The two critically-acclaimed artists have received a plethora of prestigious awards, record-breaking sales and chart successes.

Over his extraordinary 30 year career, Michael's outstanding performances have made smash-hit box office history. He is a double Olivier Award winner, multi-platinum recording artist, top selling live concert performer and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter.

Alfie's exceptional voice has made him Britain's most popular and biggest-selling tenor. He has conquered the world’s greatest opera stages and arenas, led the cast of Les Misérables, stole the show at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace – and just last week performed at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle – as well as achieving UK album sales of over a million, and four top ten albums.

Box office: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk (Southampton), 0844 576 3000 or bhlivetickets.co.uk (Bournemouth) and portsmouthguildhall.org.uk or 0844 847 2362 (Portsmouth).