(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Beyonc Knowles dazzled at the first of four intimate sell-out concerts in New York last night.

The 29-year-old award-winning songstress impressed concertgoers as she took to the stage at the Roseland Ballroom to perform a series of tracks.

Beyonc looked stunning in a daring flesh-baring gold metallic dress, which was designed by her mother Tina Knowles.

The star gushed to the crowds as she ran through a collection of her hits at the intimate performance.

"Thank you so much for tonight. It's taken a lot of hard work to get me where I am," she said before the show came to an end.

"This has been a very special night for me. I searched the world and I found myself. All of you guys have been my inspiration."

Last night's performance was the first of four to be held at the 2,500 capacity venue. Tickets for the shows were snapped up the day they were released, with one concert selling out in just 22 seconds last week.

Meanwhile, Beyonc's husband Jay-Z called her the "second coming of Michael Jackson". The successful rapper has compared his wife's relentless work ethic to that of the late superstar.

In an interview with Miami radio station 99 Jamz, Jay-Z paid tribute to his talented wife.

"What I learned from her is what I learned from Mike, and I know that's blasphemy to compare the two because Mike was such an innovator but it's like the second coming," he said.

"For the hard work and the dedication that she puts into her shows - it just makes you want to work harder at your craft, she's like a machine." (C) Cover Media