|
Bocelli Makes A 'Sacred' Offering NEW YORK -- Nov. 9 marks the worldwide release of "Sacred Arias," Andrea Bocelli's fifth career recording -- and his third classical collection -- on Philips/Universal Classics. It's a set designed for holiday-season consumption, as well as year-round interest in sacred compositions. "Sacred Arias" offers a blend of newly discovered compositions and old favorites. There are several interpretations of "Ave Maria," as well as the Christmas evergreens "Silent Night" and "Adeste Fideles." Bocelli also offers a fresh perspective on Franck's "Paris Angelicus" and Handel's "Ombra Mai Fu." Collaborating with Bocelli is internationally acclaimed conductor Myung-Whun Chung and the orchestra and chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. The material was chosen by Bocelli and Chung. "It was done in a friendly way, although there were a few disagreements," Bocelli says. "I tend to think sometimes too much about vocal matters, where his concerns are always about what is important musically." The compositions that made the final cut of the album hold fond memories for the Tuscany, Italy-born tenor. "I have known these pieces since childhood," Bocelli recalls. "I remember an album of sacred arias by [tenor Franco] Corelli. Sometimes, listening to this album would make me cry." Some are having a similarly impassioned response to Bocelli's "Sacred Arias." The set's final track, "Gloria A Te Cristo Gesu" -- a composition by Father Lecaut, a priest from Lourdes, France -- has been named the Vatican's official millennium hymn. The promotion of "Sacred Arias" will be supplemented by a special edition of PBS' "Great Performances" series. Shot on location in Rome, the program was filmed in the Santa Maria sopra Minerva basilica. It includes all of the music heard on the album, as well as footage of the singer at home. The show will premiere on Dec. 1, in time for the beginning of the PBS December pledge drive. Also on Bocelli's agenda is a profile on ABC-TV's "20/20." The airdate is still to be confirmed. On Oct. 29, Bocelli made his American opera debut at the Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, where he's performing the title role in Massenet's "Werther"; Denyce Graves is Charlotte, his love interest, and Steven Mercurio is conducting. The performances will run through mid-November. Bocelli took a brief break from this run to perform on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the "Tribute To Style: The Millennium Exhibition + Concert." The Nov. 7 event was a fund-raiser produced by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, in association with the Rodeo Drive Committee. Proceeds supported inner-city arts education through various organizations. Upon completion of his Detroit dates, the singer is confirmed to make concert appearances in Chicago, Cleveland, and Albany, N.Y. He's also among the headliners at the Celebration 2000 show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York on New Year's Eve. He also will maintain an active schedule of appearances and concerts in Europe and the Far East in the coming months. While promoting "Sacred Arias," the label will continues its efforts on behalf of "Sogno," Bocelli's 1999 collection that has sold 2.1 million copies, according to SoundScan. Philips/Universal Classics estimates that Bocelli has sold 20 million records worldwide -- with "Sogno," "Romanza," and "Aria: The Opera Album" earning critical acclaim to match solid sales. The tenor first gained popularity with U.S. audiences via PBS performances and from the Bellagio Las Vegas Resorts commercial featuring Bocelli's signature song, "Con Te Parito." In 1999, he received his first Grammy nomination for best new artist. Although Bocelli says that he "never thinks of the future," he notes that some of his future projects will likely include a recording of "La Bohème" and an album of Verdi arias. "It is always an honor to have the opportunity to sing music that comes from the heart," he says. |