BocelliOnline

[Melodie]

RON BULL - TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO
Italian classical soloist Andrea Bocelli, shown performing at the Air Canada Centre in 2001, will be returning to Toronto next Thursday for a concert.

Apr. 1, 2005

Fourth Tenor's critics are silenced by song.
ROSIE DIMANNO

A great many of us like to sing in the shower, performing behind a plastic curtain, maybe even using the shampoo bottle as a pretend-microphone.

Me, I'm still Janis Joplin: "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ..."

Andrea Bocelli does no such thing.

"The shower is a very small place and my voice is too powerful. That would give me a headache. In the shower, it is better to be silent."

While his may be one of the most magnificent singing voices in the world — 50 million albums sold — the pipes are not always appreciated 'round la casa. His two young sons have been known to plead: "Please dad, STOP!"

Everybody's a critic. And critics, those who cavil for a living, haven't always been so kind to Bocelli either, despite his spectacular popularity and the endless encomiums from fans.

Known widely, fondly, as "The Fourth Tenor" — an operatic addendum to the holy trinity of Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras — Bocelli maintains a staggering live performance schedule, a touring regimen that will bring the 41-year-old Italian to the Air Canada Centre next Thursday.

He's sung for the Pope, presidents, royalty, at Ground Zero, at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Oscars, for countless charity benefits, most recently in aid of tsunami relief.

Celine Dion, with whom he recorded a duet, famously (and to his unending embarrassment) once said of the tenor: "If God had a singing voice, he would sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli."

He has been the No. 1 classical recording artist on the planet every year since 1997, collecting more platinum discs than any classical soloist in recording industry history.

And yet, perhaps because he doesn't look the part — not fat, not so sweaty in full throttle that he needs to mop constantly at his brow, and decidedly not diva-theatrical in presentation — Bocelli hasn't quite earned the five-star reviews from the tall foreheads who best know their Carmen from their Aida. Wrote the lead opera critic for The New York Times: "When it comes to traditional opera repertoire, Bocelli is not a great tenor. When he ventures to sing without amplification, he lacks the training to project his voice."

One can almost hear the shrug in Bocelli's shoulders, down the telephone line from Italy, whence he gave the Toronto Star an interview yesterday. "The critics were much nicer to me in the beginning. But when you've had big success, they get tougher. I don't really care," he says.

The problem is likely that Bocelli is too popular with the populist scruff and that his music is not relentlessly elitist. His gravitas has suffered because of his crossover success, all that "pop-op," middle-of-the-road standards, romantic ballads, Neapolitan love songs (which never hurt Pavarotti) and lots of "Classic Lite." Nor has he been particularly well-served by his matinee-idol good looks.

Opera is indisputably Bocelli's favourite musical form, the essence of his vocal being. But he's also noted that classical music can be "like a train that can't leave its tracks," rigidly stuck in its formal environment, its historical roots.

"It's often forgotten that classical music was born of the people and for the people," he says. "It is the music of the soul, of the heart.

"I don't think I've sacrificed my reputation just because I also sing pop music. That doesn't mean that I feel the emotion of opera any less in my soul."

Yet snobbery is a factor among classical connoisseurs, as if the unwashed masses can't quite penetrate its sophistication, its beauty. And for an opera star to sing with the likes of Bono or Celine Dion is somehow sacrilegious. Pshaw — or the Italian equivalent thereof — says Bocelli, further asserting that he would love to record with, say, Mariah Carey or Christina Aguilera. Even Britney Spears. "Yes, why not Britney Spears?"

Though he won his first singing honours at age 12 — "O Sole Mio" at a competition in his native Pisa — Bocelli came quite late to his career, even after claiming another notable performance title at the San Remo Festival. While he sang throughout his childhood — says he was reduced to tears of wonder the first time he heard an operatic tenor — and played the organ at his parish, music seemed an improbable professional dream for the man lauded now as the "Tenor of our Time."

It was also in his 12th year that Bocelli went completely blind, a subject that he doesn't wish to discuss. What's known is that he suffered from glaucoma since infancy, but his vision was lost entirely after a freak soccer accident. Yet he persevered, continuing to hone, however informally, his singing and instrumental talents.

Bocelli actually trained as a lawyer and worked for a year as a prosecutor in Turin, spending his evenings tinkling the ivories as a pianist-lounge singer at local bistros, performing covers of Frank Sinatra hits. His tastes have always been eclectic.

Critics claim Bocelli lacks proper training as an opera artist and never did learn to sing effectively from his diaphragm, can't project his voice sufficiently. That's not quite factual. Bocelli trained with his childhood hero, the tenor maestro Franco Corelli, auditioning for him with an aria from La Bohéme. It's debatable whether Bocelli has the vocal resonance of a Pavarotti or Caruso, but there is an ethereal, intoxicating quality to his voice, a sense of both power and fragility that has seduced millions. And he never misses those tricky low notes.

His prodigious recording and performing itinerary might seem to leave little time for anything else. But in Italy, Bocelli has become a high-profile advocate for the custodial rights of fathers when marriages fall apart.

Divorced after 13 years, Bocelli fought hard for shared custody of his sons, an outrageous concept in Italy's overwhelmingly matriarchal society, where children are considered near exclusively the property of their mothers.

But a dogged Bocelli secured shared custody — affido condiviso — by which he gets the boys two afternoons a week and every other weekend. He also bought the house next door to the family residence in order to make everything run more smoothly.

"There are many interests to take into consideration when a husband and wife get into a fight over their children," says Bocelli. "Only the lawyers seem to win in the end. My wife and I came to an agreement, eventually, but the law itself hasn't actually changed yet. We're hoping that will happen within the next year."

Love, loss, litigation. It's the stuff of opera.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1112309412289

[Melodie]

I think this is an especially well-written article. Rosie Dimanno has been able to include biographical info. along with critics' comments, and yet bring it all current - and at the same time, she very nicely contradicts the critics she's quoted. A lot of the background information most of us already know, but imagine being a person who's just become aware of Andrea and note how she's answered so many of the usual questions - when and how he lost his sight, musical background, marital status, etc. A nice touch of humor, too.

I think I'll write her.

[Janice]

"Why not Britney Spears?" I can only hope Andrea doesn't really know who she is. OR that he was kidding. Why not? Because she has no talent! Easy answer. Andrea is probably happy with this article, too. Ms. Dimanno shaved five years off of his age! It really was very well written, though. I particularly liked the phrase, "ethereal, intoxicating quality" she used to describe THE VOICE. It's so true!

[Melodie]

I got the impression that she's a Bocelli fan.

[Marilynn]

Andrea probably liked the article, especially the ethereal intoxicating part. I think she likes Andrea also. Somehow I like the Tenor Of Our Times, better than 4th Tenor when the other 3 Tenors seem to be over the hill. This puts him in a catagory all his own.

[Anna in NY]

Excellent article. Yes, Melodie, very well written. I'd never realzied that Andrea played the organ at his parish church.
Thanks for posting it.
Anna

[shelly]

What a nice article! thank you for sharing.

[Cello64]

A very well written and engaging article – thank you so much for sharing it!

ROSIE DIMANNO not only presents a good argument in defense of Andrea’s talent but she also brings up a good point when she inserts that, “Yet snobbery is a factor among classical connoisseurs, as if the unwashed masses can't quite penetrate its sophistication, its beauty. And for an opera star to sing with the likes of Bono or Celine Dion is somehow sacrilegious.”

It is rather unfortunate that classical music has shot itself in the foot over the years by not acknowledging the fact that in order to survive, music has to be dynamic and always evolving. We need to shed the “elitist” attitude and embrace artists like Andrea who appeal to both the classical and popular audiences. So what if he follows a good aria from Tosca with a pop song – it only reinforces his versatility as an artist.

All right, I am stepping off my soapbox right now.

[buckeyeboy]

I get confused with all these critics of Bocelli? He brought me into the opera world (kind of Sarah Brightman did too) I just wish these people would embrace him and appreciate that he's bringing in a new generation of young opera admirers like myself. I mean Pavarotti is on his Farewell tour (which Im going too in FLA) and they don't have alot of icons to point to at this point. Although as an opera fan I wish Andrea would dump his pop career and do more opera cds. By the way, does anyone know where I can buy Brindisi or Faniculi, Funicula??? I know brindisi is on the dvd a night in tuscany but I'd like it on CD? One last question? I'm going to Italy soon are there any stores that specialize in Bocelli merchandise or underground AB cds?

[Guest]

Hi Melodie and everyone.

I enjoyed reading this article and the way Rosie explained her comments towards the critics.
She was very polite and graceful about what ever she was commenting on.
Very good well written Article....

Some of the critics say Andrea isn't really good in strong opera singing
But have they forgotten how strong and wonderful he sings in his Opera Album and/or his Verdi cd.
I don't see how any other Opera singer Tenor of course,could sing those songs from those two cd's any stronger or louder than Andrea did.

Thanks Melodie for posting the Article....

Hug's. Friend claire.always.

[Guest]

BuckeyeBoy.Hello.
I'm so happy Andrea Bocelli bought you into the Opera world and that you like his wonderful beautiful Voice and his songs.

You are absolutely right in that people like critics talk about Andea they way they do.
Hey,Andrea said he doesn't care.
He want's to introduce his Opera music to the younger generation hoping that they will like it and start listening to it more often....

I think in time to come all the younger people will love Andrea once they discover how Magnificent he is.

Keep listening BuckeyeBoy.
Friend Claire.

[buckeyeboy]

Don't mind me I was just venting LOL I guess we all have our Bill O'Reilly moments :)

[Bocellifan4ever]

Melodie,i'm sorry. I forgot to thank you for posting this most interesting article for us.

Have you wrote your letter to Rosie Dimanno yet? Very interesting Lady to know i'll bet.

Thanks again Mel.
Hug's,& love sent your way.

Friend,Claire always.
_________________
Claire B Berlendy

[marazul]

I am so grateful to this forum for having all these wonderful articles available...

I have loved his voice since I first recall hearing it in 1997 but I never went beyond listening to the cd's and watching the PBS specials. I never had the opportunity to read anything beyond a review in a local paper or the publicity put out by PBS when a new program featuring Andrea was about to be shown. All these articles are just a wonderland for me.

Many thanks Melodie and all who share these! You are keeping me so busy reading! I am mesmerized.
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