BocelliOnline

rosied · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 127

I attended three of the four AFH concerts and must agree with Winnie on all counts.
And as for me...what my "critically UNtrained ear" heard was no less than strong, emotionally felt and conveyed with the same sweetness that is Andrea's greatest gift to us. If that is not what they heard, its because they, for the same old reasons (jealousy and an unwillingness to eat crow,etc) went there with the same old prejudices.
Are these "guys" so closed off in their little opera/critic cliques that they have completely forgotten what a truly beautiful voice sounds like?? Have they forgotten that voice and music primarily is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL to listen to??
That same old tired lament.."better voices being ignored while he "gets rich" (Ahh-Haa!)..simply does not wash! After all...what good is a good strong voice....if no one wants to listen to it??
Sometimes I think they just write their reviews for EACH OTHER!! Just to see who can write the most cleverly worded and scathing critique...and look like a big man to their peers.
One did concede that the music public can be conned only for a short time...that there must be something beyond music that draws people to him.....and that is a talent in itself. So where has HE been? Under a rock, for sure. Maybe they are finally getting it? Could these "guys" be weakening, a little?
It breaks my heart that Andrea has to endure these attacks because he feels it is so necessary to get the recognition he deserves from this group. We already know he has the courage of a lion. He is "the king of the jungle" and like that great cat who always lands on his feet....after this "slam" he will come back stronger and more loved than ever, knowing that his performances were everything he wanted them to be and MORE than we could have hoped for.
So you see, those who made great efforts to diminish him, did quite the opposite...and thereby only succeeded in diminishing themselves.

My sweet husband said it straight when I told him about the reviews....
"Rose honey, I hope you're not too upset over this......after all you know they are all just a bunch of ------!!!

YOU fill in the blanks yourselves, guys.

Anna in NY · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject:

Hello to Everyone,

I thought Saturday evening's concert at Avery Fisher Hall was fabulous. Andrea looked well, and I believe, happy. To be honest there were a few places where I could not hear him. I think it impossible to pinpoint any one cause as there are so many variables that can affect the outcome of such a performance. Whatever the cause, it did not prevent me from enjoying this very special concert.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire program. My favorite, however, was the delicate"Deh, pietoso, oh Addolorata" (Oh Have Pity, O Mother of Sorrows". )

Deh, pietoso, oh Addolorata,
China il guardo al mio dolore;
Tu, una spada fitta in core
Volgi gl'occhi desolata
Al morente tuo figliuol.

Oh, have pity, O Mother of Sorrows,
Look down upon my sorrow;
You, with your heart pierced by a sword,
Turn your desolate eyes
To your dying son.

And here is where I would like to say that Winnie has hit the nail right on the head when she speaks of Andrea's ability to communitcate with his voice. Without denying the importance of tradition and standards within the conventions so adhered to by operatic world, I'd like to state that if a song, no matter how masterfully composed, is sung without an instrument that can convey meaning to its audience, it may as well not be sung at all. It won't connect with me. However, I've always felt there was a certain "directness" about Andrea's voice. To my ear, he is always honest in the emotion he brings. This is never forced or affected. He loves what he does. It shows. We share it. And we love it too.

Pace a tutti,
Anna
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Beddu Turridu !!!!!!!!!!!!

jpl123 · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

HI All,

I was at the Saturday evening concert. I sat about 20 rows back. Right in the dead center of prime orchestra. Unfortunately, I too had trouble hearing Andrea. I have been to many of his concerts and have enjoyed all of them. I just wished that the acoustics were better at AF Hall.

I got off the phone with one of the representives at NY Philharmonic just an hour ago. He said that Andrea was in fact miked. It was a body mike and was very discreet. He also said that the Bocelli people were responsible for the technical sound stuff...basically saying the NY Philhamonic had nothing to do with the sound mixing. That's his story.

So did Andrea sang with or without amplification this past week?

carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2003 Posts: 2

Hi Jpl.....
For most Americans this was their first chance to hear Bocelli unamplified. It should not concern you if Andrea did wear a body mike.
There were a number of ceiling mikes visible hanging over the orchestra as well. But these are mikes that record....they are NOT amplifiers. There was no amplification in the hall, thank goodness. We were hearing the real deal. The only other times I have heard him unamplified in the USA is in 1999 Detroit for Werther, and again last November for a concert in Newport News Virginia. It is so sweet to hear the pure voice.

Many performances are miked for in house recordings these days. But the public is never aware of them and does not hear any of what is recorded. I love hearing Andrea in opera and so, I have travelled to Italy a number of times to hear him do operas there. All are unamplified. And occasionally you get the chance to hear him do a concert unamplified there too. It is rather addicting. I continue to go there just to hear that natural voice sound.

jpl123 · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

HI Carolyn,

Thanks for your reply. I saw the recording mikes too hanging from the ceiling. But from what I gathered (according to the fellow from NY PHil), Andrea was slightly amplified. He also said that the Met Opera singers are slightly amplified as well.

No matter. You are right. I enjoyed hearing Andrea. Just during certain parts of the song, I wished that the orchestra wasn't so loud.

-JPL

fl2006 · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Queens, New York

Hi, I also attended thr Friday concert. We sat in the Orchestra Mid Center.
His Aria selections were beautifully performed. Some of his performance was not audible. The microphones hanging from the ceiling were for the back of the orchestra. Regardless, all performances were completely sold out. His beloved fans called out to him there expressions of love. He had four encores. I was a magnificent evening.
look froward to hearing him again on Nov30th.
Kathy
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Kindness is the mightiest force in the world...

MK · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 47

The difficulties of being an operatic tenor are described in the BLACK DOG "TENORS". "Being a tenor is at its best, like being an Olympic athelete or a rock star--but there are no microphones , roadies, or sound mixers to make him sound like a god. Just two little vibrating folds of throat tissue, the air passing over them, and all the will he can muster to sing with style and on Pitch".