George Michael announces orchestral tour

Singer George Michael is to return to live performance with a 47-date tour of Europe that will see him accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

"I felt it was really what I want to do as an artist," he told reporters at the Royal Opera House in central London.

"I am really not interested or excited by repeating former successes."

Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour will begin in Prague in the Czech Republic on 22 August and include 12 dates in the UK at the end of October.

The show returns to the UK in the run-up to Christmas, with one further date scheduled for Paris next April.

At a press launch on Wednesday, the 47-year-old said a special charity performance would be held at the Royal Opera House on 6 November in aid of the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor's Aids foundation.

The announcement follows the short jail term the singer served last year after crashing his Range Rover while under the influence of cannabis.

"I felt very re-energised after my recent troubles," said the former Wham star, who had previously claimed his 2008 concerts would be his last live shows.

"I think musically this tour and album will be surprising because I'm being far more true to myself."

According to organisers, the tour will see Michael perform "a carefully chosen selection of his songs", as well as "some of his favourite songs from other artists".