BocelliOnline

[Melodie]

From the KILKENNY ADVERTISER

Bocelli says hello and good-bye to Kilkenny with his signature tune
By Naoise O' Donovan Coogan


It was a beautiful evening - the perfect backdrop to the night of opera and light opera that lay ahead at the unlikely location of Nowlan Park. Andrea Bocelli had the crowd of over 10,000 people in the palm of his hand from the opening note. The blind heart-throb came out on stage with the help of conductor Maestro Marcello Rota who almost (but not quite!) stole the show with his quirky conducting antics. Once Bocelli opened his mouth, the audience erupted.

With the support of the spectacular Czech National Symphony Orchestra and Band and the Prague Chamber Choir, Andrea Bocelli melted the hearts of his adoring public with a selection of operatic and classical jazz numbers from the huge stage erected in the old stand at Nowlan Park.

Bocelli was everything I would have expected from hearing his CDs and what I had heard from others who had seen him live in the past. He truly does have the voice of an angel - a sexy angel at that!

Accompanied by Baritone, Gianfranco Montresor, Soprano, Doriana Milazzo and Special pop guest, Rosalia Misseri, Andrea Bocelli stole the hearts of both women and men who were mesmerised at the sound he could make and the control that he had of his voice. There was no sign of a sore throat at this event. It was true perfection.

During the first part of the performance Bocelli showcased his more operatic selection of music which included his personal versions of songs from operas such as Bizet's Carmen with Votre Toast, Verdi's Nabucco with Va Pensiero and Puccini's La Boheme with O Soave Fanciulla.

During the second part of the show, Andrea changed from his black tuxedo jacket to a white one as he said d "it symbolised a change in repertoire" and was not because "he was hot and sweaty!" The new repertoire included lighter numbers including Denza's Funiculi Funicula, Bixio's Mamma and Lara's Granada. The accompaniment of the Soprano, Baritone and special pop guest were a beautiful combination, however, Bocelli's voice was by far the hit of the evening.

He sang three encores, finishing on the one song that the audience had waited the whole night to hear - Time To Say Goodbye. The stadium seldom heard cheers from the dignified audience like it before - even at the most important hurling games of the season. The crowd was on its feet on more than three occasions calling for more by the end of the concert. Bocelli made a final appearance to bow to the audience one more time before being escorted off stage following his grand finale.

Nowlan park had not seen anything or heard anything quite like it in the past - but it proved to be a wonderful venue for a wonderful occasion. The audience sipped champagne from the wine bar on site and drank in the music and sound of a legend. Both the choir and orchestra were also top notch and should not go without mention, however, the star of the show was the man with the greying hair with a voice that effortlessly filled a stadium of enthralled spectators, who had travelled not just to hear the voice but to witness the presence of this artist in the flesh.

[ArnoneL]

Wow! Thanks, Melodie, for posting this review of Andrea's concert. I have not had the privilege of hearing him in person yet, but it is on my "wish list." This review was wonderful...I could almost imagine being there! Thanks again,

Lynn