BocelliOnline

[Rebecca]

Vic,
I know your drive down to Bridgeport was a disaster. How was your drive back? Did you stay overnight in Bridgeport? Mine was a nightmare but well worth it.
It was very nice to see you again.
Rebecca

[Ramona]

Melodie I think you got them all, the ones he performed live. Interesting how Con Te Partro was not his last song as it is in concerts. It's so hard to think clearly after seeing Andrea( wish I had brought some binoculas) and a five hour drive home.

Nessun Dorma is my favorite song( gives me the biggest goose bumps) and would love to hear him perform it live. The first AB concert I attended was April !st 2001(?) and he was scheduled to perform it but didn't.

Maybe the casual attire was to go along with the "pop genre" of the songs. We were far away and there was no big screen to watch, but boy did he look GREAT!!! And he sounded in great voice. The sound system or sound engineer was not as good as the one in Providence, however. I noticed he did have his left hand clenched most of the time he was singing but not as much towards the end.

Having been a skating fan since the early sixties, the blend of skating and Andrea's music is a wonderful treat. I, too, had a hard time watching the skating and Andrea singing live at the same time, so decided to watch , listen, and enjoy him and wait for the TV broadcast to catch the skating. For me, Todd Eldrige's performance to Il Mare Calmo Della Sera was the highlight. Todd only performed once, while the other skaters twice or more. Also would have liked to seen Paul Wylie, but he was not there.

We stayed for the re-takes and that was interesting.

It was a wonderful evening!! Seeing Melodie, Claire, Frank,Rebecca, and meeting Emjay was terrific. Even though most of those listed don't really live that far away from each other, we probably never would have met, if not for Andrea.

Millie Grazie, Andrea

Next time Andrea, please come to New Hampshire!

Ramona

[Melodie]

Initially, you could see the stage set up for live music, which I hadn’t expected – there was a piano, chairs (later occupied by violinists) and some percussion instruments

After the “opening act”, which comprised most of the cast members dressed all in black – the women’s costumes for this were beautiful – Andrea came out for the first of his songs, which was SOGNO(1); Brian Boitano skated to this. As I wasn’t sure how long we’d have to wait to see Andrea, this was a very pleasant surprise…it’s also been a VERY long time sing I heard him sing “Sogno” live, so it was definitely a treat.

It’s been mentioned that there was a problem figuring out where to look – at Andrea or the skater, since you didn’t want to miss anything. Well, during that first song, I had it all figured out – I focused my binoculars on Andrea and figured I’d catch the skaters during the television broadcast. I’m sure that many of the skaters’ fans took the opposite approach. I'm very curious as to how the TV broadcast is going to do justice to both Andrea AND the skaters...perhaps they'll be concentrating on the skaters and will show more of Andrea in the upcoming PBS special that's been mentioned.

The second song he sang (immediately following Sogno) was MELODRAMMA(2); I apologize to the skaters, but I don’t know who skated to this one. The next routine was by Rene Roca & Gorsha Sur, skating to “The Prayer”; I have this one marked in my list, which means it was one of my favorites…beautiful routine, beautifully skated. The next routine was done by Michael Weiss, backflips and all – I don’t remember the song, though. The following song was “O Mare E Tu”…this time I don’t remember the SKATER – I hope someone will come along and fill in these blanks.

The next routine was skated by Shae Lynn Bourne – absolutely STUNNING skater and this was a STUNNING routine, but my notes are very confusing…please, someone tell us the song she skated to! (I’d make a lousy reporter, wouldn’t I?)

Nicole Bobek then skated to “Plaisir d’Amour”; I’ve always enjoyed watching Nicole skate, and she was lovely in this routine. For some reason, I was surprised at the choice of the song; I think it shows the level of interest these skaters have in Andrea’s music.

“La Donna e Mobile” was next, skated by Brian Orser(?).

Then Andrea again, this time with Holly singing WHERE LOVE GOES(3); it really was a great performance. I don’t know who skated to this song.

Then came the intermission – the first song when the show started again was “SIN TU AMOR”(4) sung live with Andrea - Mario Reyes was front and center on the stage, sitting on a stool…I honestly hadn’t properly appreciated this song until I heard it performed live.

Next on the program was “L’Incontro”, then “Le Parole Che Non Ti Ho Detto”…then came Todd Eldredge skating to “Il Mare Calmo Della Sera”. I know that skating fans are familiar with Todd’s routine to this song, but I’d never seen it and I was speechless…truly an excquisite performance. In speaking with Todd later, I said that what made it even more beautiful was that he seemed to LOVE the music…he said that he does, and was only disappointed that Andrea hadn’t chosen that song as one of the ones to sing live. I think this is something that wouldn’t have occurred to most of us – the skaters who love Bocelli’s music would obviously hope that it would be THEIR chosen song that he would sing live. (I didn’t mention to Todd that he actually got more of the audience’s attention by NOT having Andrea sing it at the show)

After Todd, the songs were “Ave Maria”, “Silent Night”, “Caruso”, “Nessun Dorma”, and then Andrea was back with “CON TE PARTIRO”(5) and he finished with “DELL' AMORE NON SI SA”(6)…Dell’Amore is one of my favorites from the new CD, and I was THRILLED that it was one of the songs chosen to be sung.

[NOTE: I'm not familiar with all of the skaters, so anyone who was there who can help identify who skated to what, please do so.]

[si]

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[Lorna]

Great to read all the reports and I am so pleased that it all went well.

So Mel what did you think of Andrea in his casual wear?

Did anyone take any photos of Andrea or the fans...would love to see them if there are any out there?
_________________
Andrea is Life, the rest is mere detail

[Anna in NY]

Hello, My name is Anna and this is my first post to this site.

Yes, the last song was Nessun Dorma. Beautifully sung. My favorite of the evening.

From my seat in section 107, last seat in the row, I could not see the back of the stage at all, for the curtains blocked the view. However, I was able to see Andrea directly from the side, which was a very nice vantage point.

As I sat looking down, I saw some people come out from behind the curtain. If I'm not mistaken, I was about 7 rows above his brother, Alberto. I then saw Veronica Berti, with that pretty blonde hair. Other entourage personnel scurried in and out. There was only a metal railing separating my aisle from their section.

I'd last seen Andrea perform in 1998 at Nassau Colleseum. My sister and I took my mother, who was in her last year of life, to see him. We rented a limo and a wheelchair, took her out to dinner and then enjoyed hearing Andrea sing live for the first time. It remains one of my favorite memories of time spent with my mother.

I was happy to see Andrea once more. I shall have to make a habit of it.
He certainly brought sunshine to what was a dreary and cold evening in Connecticut!

God bless,
Anna
(Nona di Maximus)

[Melodie]

Hello Anna - welcome!

Thank you for sharing your emotions and experiences with us. It WAS a cold and dreary night OUTSIDE, wasn't it? And INSIDE it was so warm and bright!

[Melodie]

Loved the casual look Lorna...think he's been listening to us? And EVERYONE was taking pictures!! We have fans taking picture of fans and fans with "celebrities" and pics of the show itself (we'll see how those come out)...there was even one taken of me and Veronica, but I told her to stand in front of me so I'd look my best. LOL I'll be posting some as soon as I get them.

Sandi, I'm really not sure WHICH song brought the house down - all of them, I think. Well, that wouldn't have worked, would it...all of us sitting there with a piece of roof on our heads.

The song that caused the biggest reaction when he STARTED to sing was Con Te Partiro, naturally, because that's how so many people discovered him in the first place.

In all honesty, I think he got a standing ovation after each song he sang...someone please correct me if I'm wrong. (or maybe I was the only one standing...nah - couldn't have been )

[westsider]

[si]

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[si]

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[JustLaura]

If you want to read another report about Bridgeport, check out http://midtown.net/bocelli/reports_bridgeport_111204.htm where Mickie has kindly posted my own recollections...

Grazie~
Laura
:popcorn

[jo]

Great report, Laura! And all the rest of you as well! I'd better not forget to tape the show in December. It sounds great. But the before-and-after encounters won't be on tv and that's a big part of the fun of a Bocelli concert.

[Saudades]

Thank all of you for your wonderful description. I live in PA, and had tickets for the performance. I had been living for November 12th. It wasn't to be...I was in the hospital...o.k. now, but am devastated. I know it will be on TV, but it isn't the same. There are so few opportunities to see him in person living in my location. I used to be a Spanish teacher, and am fluent in the language, so I can understand much of the Italian lyrics. Of course, as some of you said....it doesn't really matter.

Melodie, thank you so much for trying to help me get the handicapped tickets. You have been so very helpful. Thank you!

This is my first post, and I don't know what I am doing..I want to figure out how to insert a signature image, etc., but haven't figured it out yet.

Everyone take care and again your descriptions and comments were wonderful!

[Lorna]