Sting has always strived to be a little different — he and the Police toured the U.S. before they released an album here; for his solo albums he embraced aspects of jazz, classical and world music; and he was one of the first artists who fought to save the Brazilian rainforests.

So it's not surprising that the live album he plans to release in late November will be unlike most other live discs.

The album will be recorded September 11 at a small concert in a private villa in Tuscany, Italy, according to his management. The event will be filmed for a simultaneous DVD release.

The audience for the show will consist of 200 friends, family members and a handful of contest winners from around the world. The winners will be flown in for the show, put up in luxury accommodations and introduced to Sting.

For the concert, which will likely feature guest performers, Sting plans to perform new arrangements of Police classics and solo material. Although the show won't be unplugged, Sting said he hopes the bucolic setting and small crowd will result in a personal and intimate performance, according to a source close to the artist.