BocelliOnline

[Melodie]

March 5, 2006



”I have neglected my family"

Andrea Bocelli broke through in 1997 with the duet “Time to say goodbye” which he sung with Sarah Brightman. Since then he has sold 50 million records.


Last Sunday he spellbound all who were watching the ending of the Olympics in Torino. The blind, world class tenor Andrea Bocelli is used to huge audiences - his records have sold over 50 million. He tells Sunday's reporter Agneta Elmegård of the price of fame.

Some people have it. Others do not. Starshine. Andrea Bocelli most definitely has it. That special charisma which you expect many world class artists to have, but many appear to lack.

Everything stops when he walks through the corridors in the Grand Hotel in Stockholm. People start to whisper. Become silent.

His typical four-day-old stubble is well tended, his grey shirt is a bit tight over the chest. Muscles? I think. Do you build muscles by singing opera? He looks relaxed and his black loafers shine like the golden knobs of the door handles.

It is hard to believe the man in front of me has the same power in his voice when singing an aria as a sprinter has when accelerating up from starting position. You can really imagine the inherent forces of the body. Andrea is unexpectedly low-voiced though, almost seems a bit shy.

He became known in 1997 with the duet “Time To Say Goodbye”, which he sang with Sarah Brightman. Since then he has sold an unbelievable 50 million records. That`s as many as super groups like U2 or Coldplay have done. He has sung with such unexpected stars as Zucchero, Bono and Bryan Adams and he is not afraid letting his honeysoft voice mix with rasping and hoarse pop voices.

Neither Bono nor Zucchero are known to be glorious singers. Why do you choose to sing with that kind of singers?
-- I like the confrontation made from unexpected meetings. That contrast makes living music. The power is in the unexpected meeting with another voice. That’s why I have chosen artists as far away from me as possible.

He fills sports arenas and concert halls all over the world. He is the magnet that classical music has missed since Pavarotti decided to put his microphone in the freezer. Anything Andrea Bocelli touches is made into gold, or rather - platinum. He has sold more platinum records than any other classical artist.

Your biggest hits have been duets with female artists. Why do you like duets?
-- I get happy by singing duets. It is a special experience to share music with a person standing beside you. It is hard to explain, but it means you share the happiness with someone else and by that strengthening the feel of the music.

His new record, being released in March, is called “Amore” (love), some of his earlier releases have had the same theme, “Romanza” (romance) and “Sentimento” (feelings). Andrea is often described as a very passionate and sensitive man.

You seem to be an impassioned person. What is passion to you?
-- My biggest passion is singing. Passion is an attitude you choose for life. I am impassioned at everything I do, it is in my mind. Whether it is the passion for my family, the music, my children or my friends it is an attitude I have chosen. It is a sort of appetite for life.

Andrea is divorced from his former wife Enrica with whom he has two sons, Amos and Matteo. For the past three years, he lives with a new woman, the Italian Veronica Berti.

What is happiness to you?
-- Happiness is something fleeting and hard to talk about. The happiness frightens me as you may have to pay a high price to reach it. I rather strive for peace of mind. I get that with my family, my children and with my friends - far from the public life.

What do you miss most when on tour?
-- I spend several months a year in planes, so I deny myself a lot. I have actually no free time. When I am not touring I try to see my family and my friends as much as possible. I neglect them very much when away.

What is the most difficult part of your profession?
-- To keep a high quality at what I am doing. And as I said earlier, all I have to sacrifice. It is about the same as for a top class athlete. I must practice and sacrifice as much as a successful athlete has to do. I exercise my voice every day.

How has fame affected you?
-- I have a big need for peace and calmness. Thus I try to strive for silence in all chaos. I also believe one should enjoy with moderation, that applies to all aspects of life, not lose your head and let fame take command.

Are you nervous before a performance?
-- Yes terribly nervous. I never get used to performing. I always have stage fright and feel deep anxiety before every performance. It has always been like that, I try to master it, but it is difficult.

What do you do to keep the stage fright calm?
-- The hours before a concert I just want to sit all by myself in a silent room to collect my thoughts. Be alone. I have a large need to being alone. Sometimes I play the piano or read.

Tell us about your new record “Amore”.
-- It is a record with old, well-known love songs made by big Spanish and Italian authors.

Producers who have worked with Andrea tells of how he spends a lot of time in the studio without a break and sings untiringly for hours.

Are you a perfectionist?
-- That is for others to assess, but I always want to do my best.

What do you know of Scandinavian music?
As soon as I get to a new country I put on the radio to try to get an opinion of the music culture of the country. The music of today tends to sound the same no matter where or by who it is composed. That is why I choose to make a record with elder music, composed 20 to 30 years ago. But I know of Birgit Nilsson and Jussi Björling. Jussi Björling had, in my opinion, one of the world's best voices.

When Andrea was twelve years old his life changed dramatically. He was born with an eye disease and despite having about twenty operations he was slowly going blind. One day what must not happen, happened. Andrea was hit in the eye by a ball, while playing in the school yard. The ball gave away small balls of lead which were hurting the eyes too much to leave any hope for his eyesight to be saved.

What is your strongest memory from your childhood?
-- Oh it is hard to pick only one. I had a very fine and loving growth. On the farm outside Pisa we had a lot of animals, dogs, cats and horses. I love animals. But the first memory that hits me when you ask is the colour of green. Just how green the nature was in Toscana. The green landscape. That memory is very strong.

Can you experience the presence of the audience?
-- I can feel in what mood the audience is. How they feel at that particular time. I am a very sensitive artist and I can above all feel their warmth and appreciation.

Are you religious?
-- Yes very.

There are people saying you have a godly voice. Do you agree?
-- My voice has nothing to do with divines. God is divine and he has given me this voice. I am infinitely grateful for this gift. That way I can understand what you mean by godliness.

You made a name for yourself less than ten years ago and have since sold 50 million records. Could you foresee that success?
-- Nobody can foresee a success like this, showing we have to meet our destiny with loyalty and passion and trust our own benefits. Sometimes we meet things that can not be explained. The dream of living and working in the artistic world, a dream I have nourished since childhood, has given the record success you speak of.

[Translation courtesy of Karl Lawson, Stockholm]

[marazul]

Thank you so much for posting this interview.

The interviewer is direct, but respectful, and admiring of Maestro Bocelli all at once.

Really enjoyed this!
Crista
_________________
"If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul."
Persian Poet

[KathyinCt]

Thanks for posting this , Melodie.It was a very good interview. I sometimes miss things because I tend to check out general discussion and forget these sections
_________________
Where there's life, there's hope

[Bocellifan4ever]

Thank you so much Melodie,& this is a very interesting subject,& interview with Andrea. He is such a good man,& kind,& i would dearly love to meet him,& talk with him.
Maby some day.Who knows?

Hug's to you.
Claire.
_________________
Claire B Berlendy

[Crinklefry]

Thanks so very much for sharing, Melodie. I'm still trying to navigate myself around this forum, very wonderful interview. Andrea is the ideal man. Although I've never met him he appears to be a very kind, gentle spiritual, sensitive and very gifted person.

I treasure all of his music, his voice is like heaven to me.
And, one day, by the grace of God I'll be able to see him in concert.[/img]