BocelliOnline

[chiara2]

Hello All, I have not posted on the forum in a long time.

I don't know if any of you saw this on line:

Bocelli makes N.Y. Philharmonic debut
MARTIN STEINBERG
Associated Press
NEW YORK - After 13 years of performances and the sale of millions of CDs, Andrea Bocelli made his New York Philharmonic debut.

The Italian crooner, who has been venturing from pop to opera in recent years, sang eight songs by Verdi on Wednesday night before a sellout audience at Avery Fisher Hall.

Passion? Yes. Power? No. Was the audience disappointed? Not in the least. They loved it. And he responded with four encores.

Bocelli, who wrote in the program that his debut "with the world's most celebrated orchestra" was "a dream come true," is an inspiring figure. Born with a rare form of glaucoma, he lost his sight at age 12 after a soccer accident. He loved singing and continued to study music even while becoming a lawyer. Then in 1994, he made his stage debut in Verdi's "Macbeth" and released his first CD a year later. The rest is history.

On his historic night, the 47-year-old Bocelli sang early works by Verdi that were orchestrated by the 20th century composer Luciano Berio. The songs generally tell stories of loneliness, misery and lost love to music that seems oddly upbeat.

The orchestra, led by energetic Israeli conductor Asher Fisch, trimmed its ranks after playing Verdi's Overture to "La forza del destino" so as not to overpower Bocelli. But there's only so much one can do short of electronic amplification, a route not taken at this concert.

Bocelli's voice - though robust in spirit and precisely in tune, even in the upper register - had a thin quality that never opened up.

As much as his fans may hope that he will emerge as the world's leading tenor after Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, this probably will never be a dream come true.

But that doesn't matter. The audience rewarded him with standing ovations, and he sang 20 minutes of encores, ending with the rousing "Di quella pira" from Verdi's "Il Trovatore." Bocelli held the final sustained high C without a problem, delighting concertgoers.

The program, which included Mascagni's Intermezzo from "Cavalleria rusticana" and Puccini's "Preludio sinfonico" and Prelude to Act III of "Manon Lescaut," was being repeated through Saturday night. The performances, of course, are sold out.

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

[Barbara W.]

Chiara2,

Thanks so much for the post. First I have read on Andrea's premiere night. Sounds like a great success as expected.

For those attending subsequent nights, looks like you are in for a great experience. Enjoy!

Barbara W.