BocelliOnline

[Anna in NY]

Andrea Bocelli ~ November 30, 2006
Please feel free to post your concert reports here! As always, we look forward to your descriptions of the evening!
Grazie!
Anna
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Beddu Turridu !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anna in NY]

From the New York Post
Enjoy!
Anna

OPERA & POP ADD UP TO PLEASING 'POPERA'By DAN AQUILANTE
December 2, 2006 -- ANDREA BOCELLI

NOT since Bugs Bunny put on a white tie and tuxedo to conduct in the 1946 cartoon "Rhapsody Rabbit" has any one performer done more than Andrea Bocelli to make classical music accessible to the average Joe.

At Madison Square Garden, better known as a cathedral for rock, Bocelli did just that, while performing some of the world's most famous arias, as well as a few love songs from this year's multiplatinum-selling "Amore," in front of a sold-out house.

For opera fans slumming at the Garden, he brought the house down Thursday at the close of the first set with a couple of numbers from Verdi's "Il Trovatore." Backed by a 60-piece orchestra and a 125-member choir, Bocelli's voice was hearty. He sang the tunes like they were drinking songs, yet his tone was smooth and brimmed with emotion.

That kind of performing swagger was remarkable considering Bocelli is blind and, wearing cement boots, stood motionless center stage.

For Bocelli, warm sound is everything; yet amplifying his voice was no easy task at the Garden.

The sound man did an admirable job twisting the volume knobs just far enough that Bocelli was clear and loud. Yet instead of being AC/DC loud, the volume at this show allowed clarity - although there was a heavy-handed and unnecessary use of echo to fatten up the top of his tenor.

In the post-intermission set, Bocelli crossed over to his pop side with the Latin standards "Bésame Mucho" and "Somos Novios," and then with his hit "Because We Believe," written by power-pop master David Foster.

While that English-language song roused the house to a standing ovation, it was in the encore, when Bocelli dueted with soprano Ailyn Perez on a variation "Con Te Partir" titled "Time to Say Goodbye," that he owned MSG.

Even though he didn't shatter any wine glasses, Bocelli did smash the classical snob notion that he's just a lowbrow, blind-leading-the-deaf record company gimmick.

[email protected]

Link to the Article:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12022006/entertainment/music/opera__pop_add_up_to_pleasing_popera_music_dan_aquilante.htm
_________________
Beddu Turridu !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anna in NY]

Dan Aquilante wrote:

"......Even though he didn't shatter any wine glasses, Bocelli did smash the classical snob notion that he's just a lowbrow, blind-leading-the-deaf record company gimmick.

(Italics mine)

I love it!!!
Anna
_________________
Beddu Turridu !!!!!!!!!!!!

[broadwaymike92]

An Evening with Andrea Bocelli and the New York City Opera Orchestra Conducted by Steven Mercurio
Soprano: Ailyn Perez
Baritone: Luis Ledesma
Pop Guest: Nita Whitaker
and
The New York Choral Union

Preshow: It was lovley Thursday Evening at the Garden when Andrea Bocelli came to perform the World's Greatest Opera Arias and Songs from Amore. On that night before the concert, Me and my Mom saw the Commercial annoucing Bocelli's Concert tonight at 8pm and then went to Barnes and Noble to look at a few things then we went inside the Arena to take our seats. We sat one Section below the Arena Suites and we had the first row.


Act 1: The show started at 8:10pm with an offstage Welcome anoucement. After the announcer said "Thank You and enjoy the Show", the houselights went out, the 2 video Screens on the side of the Stage went on, the Orchestra started Tuning, and Maestro Mercurio came onto the Stage and Started Conducting the Overture from Luisa Miller. Then after the song was done the Audience applauded and Steven ran off to get Andrea Bocelli himself. He wore his usually Tuxedo and got a lot of Applauding, Whooping, and Bravos. Then Andrea started singing Vesta la Giubba and showed a lot of felling into the song. The Audience had the loudest Laughter from when Andrea did the Evil Cackle and the Sad Attitude perfectly. Then Baritone Luis Ledesma came onto the Stage and sang with Andrea, Au Fond Du Temple. Then they both left the Stage and Soprano Ailyn Perez came on and performed Je Veux Vivre. Then Mercurio brought Andrea Back on and he sang Panis Angelicus with the Choir. Then Ailyn came back on Stage and joined Andrea sing O Soave Fanciulla Then they both left the Stage and that Silly Mercurio led the Orchestra in the William Tell Overture which the Audience gave him a Standing Ovation. Then Luis Ledesma return to the Stage and sang Votre Toast. I thought he was Ok in the song. Then Andrea ended the last 2 songs in the 1st Half from Il Travatore. Andrea first sang Di Quella Pira with the Choir and the 2 Opera Guests of the NIght joined Andrea in singing the Act 1 Trio which I got Goosebumps from. Then Andrea, Luis, Ailyn, and Steven all took a Bow and left the Stage.

Then the Welcome Announcer said that now there will now be a 15 Minute Intermission. I was looking foward to the 2nd Half. Evreyone in the Audience got something to eat or bought a Bocelli Soulvinner which was nice.

Act 2: The Lights went out and Maestro Mercurio came back on stage and led the Orchestra in an Overture that he wrote called the "Mercurial Overture". As it end, he brought back Andrea and with the Choir, he sang Vieni Sul Mar. Then Andrea by himself sang Granada. Then of Course he got off and Maestro Mercurio conducted the Orchestra in Cinema Paradiso which had Scenes from Popular Movies in the 30's-90's. Then Andrea came back on stage and sang with the Choir Non ti Scordar di mi and Funiculi, Funicula. Then Andrea went off again and Mercurio conducted a long piece called Tango Sentimental y Apasiado which featured some amazing Tango Dance Academys on the Screens. As it end, Steven brought Andrea back and this time Andrea changed his Jacket. The Jacket he wore this time was White. He then took his Pop Microphone and talk to evreyone and told them he changed his Jacket and then turned over to Steven and talked about how amazing it is to be in New York. After the talking, Andrea ended the 2nd half with 3 Songs from Amore. He first sang Besame Mucho, then the Pop Guest Nita Whitaker came out and Sang Somos Novios, and then ended the night with Because We Believe from the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. After the song, the Audience gave Andrea more Whooping, Bravos, and began yelling Encore.

Encores: Andrea went back on the Stage with Nita Whitaker and they sang The Prayer from the Quest for Camelot Soundtrack and Andrea's Songo and Under the Desert Sky CDs. As it ended, the 2 left the Stage and Steven came back on and waved his hands up if they want more of Andrea. The Answer was Yes. Andrea and Ailyn Perez returned to the Stage and using the Classical Microphones they sang Andrea's Signature Song Con te Patriro or better known as Time to Say Goodbye. As they ended the song, I had the Chills and began Crying. Then Andrea got a big Standing Ovation and Luis, Rita, Ailyn, Andrea, and Steven took a big Bow and they all left the stage. Tnen Andrea came back on with one more song. He ended the Night with Nessun Dorma which gave evreone the final Chill. Evreyone then started Screaming Bravo and gave him one last Standing Ovation, and he left the stage. Then Andrea and all the Performers came out one last time and took a big bow and the lights went back on and evreyone left the Garden saying "What a Concert!" And that was Andrea Bocelli's amazing MSG Concert ever.

[Anna in NY]

Welcome Broadwaymike,

Thank you for this wonderfully detailed concert report. I'm sure you've brought back many memories for those who were present!

If you attend any of the upcoming concerts, be sure to contribute again.

Anna
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Beddu Turridu !!!!!!!!!!!!