BocelliOnline

[Melodie]

For Bocelli, the show goes on

By A.D. Amorosi

For The Inquirer

For some, Tuscan tenor Andrea Bocelli is opera's godsend, an airy singer whose tones, as handsome as his looks, should guarantee him the "Fourth Tenor" seat as Pavarotti, Domingo and the other guy, Carreras, age.

For others, the 46-year-old blind singer is gimmicky and lightweight, a pop-operatist whose depthless vocalizing makes Josh Groban seem weighty.

On Sunday night, to a nearly full house at the Wachovia Center, Bocelli - backed by maestro Steven Mercurio and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the hundred-strong New York Choral Society, and soprano Patrizia Orciani - set the record straight.

This almost didn't happen as Bocelli reportedly nearly canceled because of the worsening health and death that day of Pope John Paul II. "It would be beautiful to think of the Pope listening to this music," Bocelli said in his heavily accented English about the man he befriended, before launching into a lovingly paced "Panis Angelicus" (Franck) and a rich yet cautious rendition of Schubert's "Ave Maria."

Hesitancy was Bocelli's enemy. Throughout "Ave Maria," he was emotive. Yet above the churning cascade of plucked strings, the light-toned tenor didn't seem to pull mournfully from within. It was a prayer less private and personal than it was rote.

Sometimes - at the beginning of his sets - he was tentative and limp, lacking the bravura of Pavarotti or the rigorousness of Domingo. Through the galloping arrangement of "Di quella pira" from Verdi's Il Trovatore, Bocelli's occasionally breaking voice was rushed, clipping its initial phrases. He was slow to warm to the festiveness of the dancing "Funiculi, Funicula" (Denza), with a voice as stiff as his physical demeanor. Rarely did the performer relax his shoulders or unclench his fists.

But when Bocelli did relax, he managed to set drama in motion with an emotional clarity, powerful theatricality, subtlety and depth. He gave the orchestra's twittering flutes a run for their money on "In tanto amici qua" from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, and turned the gray ballad "Tu che m'hai preso il cor" (from Lehar's Land of Smiles) colorful.

Throughout his duets with soprano Orciani, Bocelli engaged in a war of R-rolling, never letting her powerful, long-lunged punches or piercing-note jabs catch him off guard. This went for their restrained, homey harmonizing in "Vicino a te" from Andrea Chenier and the prickly "Brindisi" from La Traviata, where Bocelli haughtily ha-ha'd its final phrases.

Bocelli by himself was not always a sensitive tenor, rushing through "Because" to get to its grand finale. But he made up for that lack of subtlety by opening up the lilting "Torna a Surriento" (DeCurtis) to its perfume-scented lyrics with a hush that underscored potent theatricality. In "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot, he found ample opportunity to employ his lower register. And, surprisingly, it wasn't the last we heard of that deep voice, as Bocelli would use the same clear, hearty depth in a minor-chord poperatic take on the swelling "Incanto," the nearly disco-rhythmic sweep of "Liberta" and a shocking near-finale of Sinatra's "My Way."

Seated behind a piano, Bocelli made the macho ballad resonant with a warbly fluidity to match cabaret lizard Bryan Ferry. Or at least Mandy Patinkin.

Bravo.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/11311495.htm

[Melodie]

If he sings "Nessun Dorma" in New Jersey this Sunday, I'm sunk - but what a way to go!!

[Anna in NY]

Melodie,
Did you hear Larry King say that Andrea is dedicating his performance in New Jersey on Sunday to Pope John Paul II? I was so touched to hear this.
See you Sunday!
Anna

[Ramona]

Nessun Dorma--Nessun Dorma? This is my absolute favorite. I think that he has not sung this since his father's death. It's not fair--he cancelled Worcester then sings Nessun Dorma. He needs to make this up to me-uhh us.

Ramona

[emjay]

Sounds like a wonderfull concert, what a treat that awaits all of you happy concert goers.
Have a wonderfull time, i will be waiting to hear all about it.
Mel, so sorry i couldn`t make this trip, i so would of loved to see you .

hugs m.j
_________________
" HAVE A BOCELLI DAY FULL OF SUNSHINE AND SMILES"