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Born: 1958 09 22
iSound Site: www.isound.com/andrea_bocelli
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| The only official biography (March 1999). "I don't think that one really decides to be a singer. It's decided for you, by the reaction of those around you. Perhaps one shouldn't say 'listen to me, I want to sing for you', but if people say 'please sing for us', well...."
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| Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky [DVD Included]
by Andrea Bocelli
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Label: Sugar
2006-11-07
Media: Audio CD
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Tracklisting:
1. Besame Mucho - live
2. Cuando Me Ennamoro - live
3. Estate - studio version with Chris Botti
4. September Morn - live
5. Can't Help Falling in Love - studio duet with Katharine McPhee
6. Canzoni Stonate - new studio edit with Stevie Wonder
7. Momentos - live
8. Somos Novios - live
9. The Prayer - live duet with Heather Headley
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The only official biography (March 1999). "I don't think that one really decides to be a singer. It's decided for you, by the reaction of those around you. Perhaps one shouldn't say 'listen to me, I want to sing for you', but if people say 'please sing for us', well...."
Andrea Bocelli possesses a truly remarkable voice. A voice as palpably powerful, as it is almost ethereal. Not simply an extraordinary voice which displays such power and fragility, but a potent instrument of emotion and sensitivity which touches the heart, like music itself.
Andrea Bocelli's voice has made him an international phenomenon. With his international debut album, "Romanza", Andrea seduced millions of willing music lovers around the world, topping international charts and amassing a multitude of platinum awards. But the true measure of the phenomenon, is the manner in which both man and voice reached out to touch, in emotional communication rendering barriers of language and culture immaterial.
Andrea's life appears to have featured moments of sudden revelation.
Andrea was born in 1958, in Lajatico, rural Tuscany. The traditions of the region, and the strong influence of his parents who taught their son never to simply accept defeat, rather to draw strength from it, have left indelible impressions on the man.
Andrea does not remember life without passion for music. He recalls his early fascination with the great Italian tenors, such talents as Del Monaco, Gigli and especially his idol Franco Corelli. Enflamed by the music of the opera, Andrea's lifelong dream and ambition was to become a great tenor. The gentle teasing by contemporaries, of Andrea's love for this seemingly antiquated music, never prevented them from pleading for performances. Approaching his teens, Andrea won a number of singing competitions. However as adult life approached, youthful ideals of a life devoted to music were to be undermined by doubt and reality.
Andrea travelled to Pisa to attend university, taking a degree in Law. Throughout, he enjoyed playing in local piano bars, performing the classic tunes of such vocal greats as Sinatra,Aznavour and Piaf. Occasionally, Andrea's deepest musical passions were revealed with the performance of a favourite aria.
Learning that childhood idol Franco Corelli was to take master classes in Turin, Andrea apprehensively approached the maestro. Corelli, recognising a natural beauty in the voice which recalled qualities of several legendary Tuscan tenors, took on the young man as a pupil. Encouraged, Andrea considered that, with dedication, a life of music might prevail. The legal career was suspended. Life was now to study music by day and perform in piano bars by night. Pisa's law courts were not to see the return of the young lawyer.
In 1992, Italian rock star Zucchero required a tenor to assist in the preparation of a demo of a unique duet, "Miserere", to be sung with the great Luciano Pavarotti. After fruitless auditions, a young man performing in local piano bars appeared. Effortlessly, and somewhat inexplicably, the young man captured the very essence of the song.
Italian music industry figure Michele Torpedine flew to Philadelphia to play "Miserere" to Pavarotti. The great maestro was stunned by the way the tenor took to the song. A friendly impasse was reached, with the maestro steadfastly rejecting Michele Torpedine's assertions that the voice was of an unknown piano bar pianist, rather than a talented young tenor.
Back in Italy, Andrea was approached in 1993 by Caterina Caselli Sugar, president of Sugar label, one of the country's longest established music companies, when she heard him singing "Nessum Dorma" at private party. Caterina was immediately touched by Andrea's voice. Determined that Andrea should take this unique talent to the public, Caterina invited Andrea to visit her office, to hear an unpublished composition entitled "Il Mare Calmo Della Sera". Andrea attended Sugar with his father Alessandro, where Caterina played the music, suggesting that the song must be recorded by this voice of power and beauty.
With such a unique voice to introduce, Caterina, Michele and others worked to have Andrea invited to take part in the annual "San Remo Song Festival", given that the event demands almost universal attention from the Italian media and public. This idea was to win through, as Andrea won the preliminary contest with the highest score ever, progressing to then win the "New Acts" competition in 1994. Chart success was immediate. Andrea's debut album on Sugar label, Il Mare Calmo Della Sera and it's follow up Bocelli soon began to attract the attention of Europe.
In 1996, the melody of Con Te Partirň (written by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto) and in it's duet arrangement with Sarah Brightman, "Time To Say Goodbye", beguiled the European public. Hinting at the beginning of an international Andrea Bocelli phenomenon, "Time To Say Goodbye" spent fourteen weeks atop the German single chart, to become the nation's best selling single of all time.
1996's debut international album Romanza, enchanted first Europe, then beyond. The passion of Romanza inflamed the world, Andrea's voice touching hearts unfamiliar with words of Italian, but utterly fluent in the language of emotion. Romanza became established as a fixture on international hit parades, as the songs became ensconced in the emotional landscape of their listener's lives.
Alongside his career in popular music, Andrea has pursued his operatic passions with stunning success. With 1995's Sugar classical debut, "Viaggio Italiano", Andrea paid his personal tribute to the musical tradition of the Italian tenor, not just the greats who inspired him, but to the Italian immigrants and local heroes who celebrated and popularised opera in their adopted homelands. 1998 debut international classical disc, "Aria", became one of the most successful classical albums ever, dominating classical charts and sensationally scaling international pop album charts.
Andrea's lifetime's passion to share his love of opera with a wider audience, especially those for whom opera would be an exciting new experience, had reached a point where not even his wildest dreams had dared to stray.
With even his wildest dreams materialising, what then are the simple realities of the man? Andrea is a man of passions, with an unquenchable lust for life and a thirst for all manner of insight and experience. One striking example of this tenacious attitude to life was illustrated when Andrea paid a visit to his local airfield, eliciting a playful invitation from a member of the resident parachuting club. With no prior engagements for the remainder of the afternoon, one of the world's foremost tenors shortly found himself experiencing a spectacular freefall of several thousand feet! Back on solid ground, avid passions for music, literature (especially that of Russian and French writers) and sport are pursued. Relaxation in the company of friends is often accompanied by simple Tuscan fare, when the man himself may commandeer the family kitchen to create another type of Italian masterpiece!
Despite living in a world of frenetic change, Andrea approaches life with a serene outlook, enjoying life's simple pleasures and undertaking each challenge with a passion. Ever optimistic, Andrea has perfectly understood the essence of a quote by French novelist Antoine de Saint-Exupery; "One only sees clearly through the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes".
(Addl. Note: Andrea Bocelli lost his eyesight as the result of a soccer accident, when he was twelve years old.)
Bio written by: anon |
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