“I don’t think you can become a singer at will. This is decided by those who are next to you. Perhaps you shouldn’t say: “listen, I’ll sing for you,” but if those around you say: “please sing for us,” then...”

His voice cannot be confused with any other: soft and powerful at the same time, very multifaceted, at present he is perhaps the most sought-after Italian voice not only in Europe, but also in the USA. His CDs sell in great demand, and his concerts attract 20,000 spectators. But despite such success, if he is asked about his most pleasant memory in musical career, Andrea Bocelli responds like this: “It was a concert at the Macerata arena. An old man came into my dressing room and said: “Signor Bocelli, I have been listening to opera all my life. I debated for a long time whether to go to your concert. But I must admit that your performance of the aria from “The Artesian” was perfect.” It's worth a lot.

Biography

Andrea Bocelli was born on September 22, 1958 in the small town of Lajatico in the province of Pisa and grew up among the Tuscan fields. “As if hypnotized, I listened to excerpts from operas,” Andrea recalls. - At the age of six I was already learning to play the piano, then the flute and saxophone. And I was always asked to sing for relatives.”

“My parents,” recalls Bocelli, “played a decisive role in my choice, quickly noticing my musical inclinations. My mother told me, for example, that when I heard music, I immediately stopped crying. My parents and relatives competed in the number of discs they gave me and noticed that I was especially fascinated by opera music; these great voices touched my imagination.”

Unfortunately, due to congenital glaucoma, Andrea's vision was weak from birth, and at the age of 12 he completely lost the ability to see after an accident when, while playing football and standing at the goal, he was hit by a ball in the very eye that still had some vision ...

After graduating from the Lyceum, Andrea enters the Faculty of Law of the University of Pisa, receives a diploma, but does not stop singing. Moreover, he becomes a student of tenor Franco Corelli. And for financial support, he does not neglect to express himself from time to time in drunk bars. During this period he meets Enrica, his future wife, which will give him two sons: Amos and Matteo.

Unfortunately, the couple separated in 2002. Currently, Andrea Bocelli is accompanied through life by Veronica Berti, a businesswoman and singer, the daughter of the Ancona baritone Ivano Berti.

Andrea Bocelli and Veronica Berti. Photozimbio. com

Beginning of a musical career

"Official" start singing career Bocelli was almost accidental: he takes part in the test recording of the famous “Miserere”, which Zucchero Fornaciari arranges in 1992 to offer the song to Luciano Pavarotti. The great tenor, listening to Bocelli’s performance, will comment on it like this: “Thank you for beautiful song, but let Andrea sing it. He's the best fit for her." As you know, Pavarotti will later record this song, but on Zucchero’s European tour it will be Andrea Bocelli who will replace Pavarotti on stage.

A little later, in 1993, Bocelli’s discographic career began. With the song "Miserere", performing both parts, he passes the qualifying round for the music festival in San Remo. And in 1994 he was invited to San Remo as famous performer, and with the song “Il mare calmo della sera” (“The Quiet Evening Sea”) he receives a record number of votes in the “New Proposals” category. Releases his first album with the same name, which goes platinum within a few weeks.

Worldwide recognition

The following year, 1995, Andrea returned to the festival with the song “Con te partirò” (“I’ll go with you”), which will be included in the Bocelli album and will become a double platinum disc in Italy.

In the same year, taking part in a European tour (“Night of the Proms”), in which Bryan Ferry, Al Jarreau and other celebrities took part, Bocelli already sang in front of an audience of five hundred thousand, not counting tens of millions of television viewers. Comes immediately worldwide success. The singles "Con te partirò" and the English version of the song "Time to Say Goodbye" are breaking sales records in many countries, and the albums are receiving awards throughout Europe. In France, this single remained at the top of the charts for six weeks, in Belgium - for twelve weeks! The album "Bocelli" goes four times platinum in Germany (almost two million copies sold) and twice platinum in Italy.

And Bocelli's next album, "Romanza", released in 1996, reaches the heights of incredible international success. Just a few weeks after its release, the disc goes platinum in almost all countries where it was released, and in the press the Tuscan tenor is compared in popularity to Enrico Caruso.

In 1995, the CD "Viaggio Italiano" ("Italian Journey") was released - Bocelli's contribution to the popularization of Italian opera in the world. And already in 1998, the international debut of the disc classical music"Aria" immediately takes him to the top of the charts of both classical and popular music.

Simultaneously with numerous tours during this period, Bocelli received proposals for interpretation and popularization of lyric operas as if from a cornucopia.

“Luck never left me,” the singer comments on this period. In fact, it is precisely these days that it comes out new album“Sogno” (“Dream”), so long-awaited by the public that it immediately soars to first place in the European hit parade and fourth in the American chart. In the discography, such a triumph can be compared, perhaps, with the success of Domenico Modugno’s “Volare” in 1958. In the USA, even the term “Bocellimania” appeared.

The 1999 album "Arie sacre" becomes the classical music disc of the best-selling artist of all time. In 2000, after singing in the Vatican in the presence of the Pope on the occasion of the Jubilee Year, Bocelli released his fourth classical album, Verdi, followed by his first complete opera, La Bohème. After such serious works, in 2001 the “light” album “Cieli di Toscana” (“Heaven of Tuscany”) was born, and three years later a pop disc with the simple name “Andrea” was released, in which, however, in addition to Andrea himself, numerous "guests", including Amedeo Mingi and Mario Reyes.

Bocelli's charity concert at the Colosseum in May 2009 - to help victims of the earthquake in Abruzzo. Photo chronica.it

Recognition comes not only from the public, but also from the state: on February 6, 2006, Bocelli received the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic.

And on March 2, 2010, the singer was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to performing arts(opera).

Andrea Bocelli and his Hollywood star. Photo: crisalidepress.it

It would seem that such a dizzying success could change the views on the life of the Tuscan tenor, alienate him from his family, from friends, from his attachment to the Tuscan fields... But no, as recognition comes from all corners of the world, Andrea never tires of repeating : “Success is just an accident. You can't get too attached to him. There are many other things in life. When I return home, I close the door behind me and have dinner with my loved ones. The only thing I bring with me is my voice, also because I have to practice at least two hours a day."

Andrea Bocelli with his sons and Veronica Berti. Photo oggi.it

Discography

Studio albums

1997: Viaggio Italiano

1997: Aria - the opera album

1999: Sacred Arias

2001: Cieli di Toscana

2002: Sentimento

2009: My Christmas

Cover album"My Christmas"Photogetmusik.ws

Operas

1995 - “La bohème” (G. Puccini), conductor Zubin Mehta (Rodolphe)

2001 - “Tosca” (G. Puccini), conductor Zubin Mehta (Cavaradossi)

2003 - “Il Trovatore” (Verdi), conductor Steven Mercurio (Manrico)

2004 - “Werther” (Massenet), conductor Yves Abel (Werther)

2005 — “Carmen” (Bizet), conductor Chung Myung-hun

2006 — “Pagliacci” (Leoncavallo), conductor Steven Mercurio (Canio)

2006 — “Honour Rusticana” (Mascagni), conductor Stephen Mercurio (Turiddu)

2010 - “André Chénier” (Giordano), conductor Marco Armigliato (André Chénier)

Solo

1994: “Il mare calmo della sera”

1995: "Con te partirò"/"Vivere"

1995: "Macchine da guerra"

1995: "Per amore"

1999: "Ave Maria"

1999: "Canto della Terra"

2001: "Melodrama"

2001: "Mille Lune Mille Onde"

2004: “Dell’amore non si sa”

2004: "Un nuovo giorno"

2009: “White Christmas/Bianco Natale”

Theater of Silence

In his hometown of Lajatico, Andrea Bocelli organized the original “Theater of Silence” (Teatro del Silenzio), the official opening of which took place on July 27, 2006.

Concert of Andrea Bocelli at the Theater of Silence. Photo lajatico.info

According to the plan, the unique open-air theater is “silent” 364 days a year, and only one day is dedicated to the performance. The structure consists of a “stage” surrounded by beams, and in the center is an impressive sculpture of a human face, created by Polish sculptor Igor Mitorai for the play Manon Lescaut, and then donated to the theater.

At the base of the stage there are several granite blocks, and the seats for spectators on “days of silence” are removed and the stalls turn into an artificial lake.

"Theater of Silence" during the "rest" period. Photo trekearth.com

Currently, the “Theater of Silence” is a place that numerous tourists come to see, and once a year Andrea Bocelli performs here.

Italian Opera singer Andrea Bocelli was born in 1958 in Lagiatico in the province of Tuscany. Despite his blindness, he became one of the most memorable voices of modern opera and pop music. Bocelli is equally good at performing classical repertoire and pop ballads. He recorded duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman, Eros Ramazzotti and Al Jarreau. The last one who sang with him was “The Night Of Proms”... Read all

Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli was born in 1958 in Lagiatico in the province of Tuscany. Despite his blindness, he became one of the most memorable voices of modern opera and pop music. Bocelli is equally good at performing classical repertoire and pop ballads. He recorded duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman, Eros Ramazzotti and Al Jarreau. The last one who sang with him, "The Night Of Proms" in November 1995, said of Bocelli, "I had the honor of singing with the most beautiful voice in the world."

Andrea Bocelli grew up on a farm in the small village of Lajatico. At the age of 6 he began learning to play the piano, and later mastered the flute and saxophone. Suffering from poor vision, he became completely blind at age 12 after an accident. Despite the obvious musical talents, Bocelli did not consider music as his future career until he graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Pisa, and received his doctorate. Only then did Bocelli begin to seriously study his voice with the famous tenor Franco Gorelli, simultaneously earning money for piano lessons in various groups.

Bocelli's first breakthrough as a singer came in 1992, when Zucchero (Adelmo Fornaciari) was looking for a tenor to record a demo of the song "Miserere", which he wrote with U2's Bono. Having successfully passed the selection, Bocelli recorded the composition in a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. After a worldwide tour with Fornaciari in 1993, Bocelli performed at the charity Pavarotti International Festival, which was held in Modena in September 1994. Besides Luciano Pavarotti, Bocelli also sang with Bryan Adams, Andreas Vollenweider and Nancy Gustafsson. In November 1995, Bocelli toured the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain and France with the production of "Night Of Proms", which also featured Bryan Ferry, Al Jarreau, Supertramp's Roger Hodgson and John Mays.

Bocelli's first two albums "Andrea Bocelli" (1994) and Bocelli (1996) presented only his opera singing, and the third disc Viaggio Italiano is famous opera arias and traditional Neapolitan songs. Although the CD was released only in Italy, it sold more than 300 thousand copies there. The fourth album Romanza (1997) featured pop material, including the hit "Time To Say Goodbye", recorded in a duet with Sarah Brightman, which had big success. After this, Bocelli continued to develop a profitable pop direction, releasing his fifth album Sogno in 1999, which included a duet with Celine Dion, "The Prayer." Released as a single, this song sold 10 million copies in the United States alone, and for its performance Bocelli received Golden Globe Awards and was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best New Artist” category.

In October, a concert of the world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli took place in St. Petersburg. The world-famous tenor sang for free for everyone who happened to be on Palace Square at that time. Coincidentally or not, it was on Music Day.

Although Andrea said at the press conference that outdoor concerts were nothing new to him, it was clear that the St. Petersburg weather caused inconvenience to the tenor. After all, as expected at a concert, he was in a light suit. True, after each vocal part went backstage. Obviously it was warmer there. In his absence, an orchestra played on stage Mariinsky Theater. VIPs in the front rows were not shy about vigorously expressing their emotions. So, even if the climate seemed harsh to the musician, he was received very warmly. They applauded while standing, which is called peeling off their palms. Palace Square was packed to capacity. Many did not believe that the concert would take place on the appointed day; after all, the capricious St. Petersburg weather defies forecasts.

Bocelli came to St. Petersburg 10 years ago, then he recorded an album with Vladimir Fedoseev, he had the opportunity to record Verdi with an orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. The singer also noted his collaboration with Olga Borodina and Yulia Gertseva. “You have a wonderful school with a long tradition,” says Bocelli.

It turned out that the tenor knows and loves Russian literature: “I once started reading to fight insomnia. In this way I tried to occupy myself, because I didn’t want to sleep. But I was so keen on reading that my insomnia only worsened. I read Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Chekhov. I really fell in love with Russian classics.” Andrea's dream to visit Russia has come true, now he hopes to visit someday Yasnaya Polyana, bow to Tolstoy. He does not lose hope of coming to Russia just as a tourist. By the way, the famous tenor shared that he always takes Rachmaninov with him on trips to listen to on the road.

Bocelli admits that he would really like to sing the opera “Eugene Onegin”, but the language barrier interferes, and he is sure that one must strive to perform the opera perfectly.

But this is today Andrea Bocelli - a famous opera singer, tenor. He had to fight harder than others for his place in the sun: as a result of an accident at the age of 12, he became completely blind. He is perplexed when someone considers his blindness an advantage over other colleagues: they say, out of respect, they will let him go ahead. Colleagues, on the contrary, work more diligently with their elbows...

No, no, but they will remember that he started with pop music. Bocelli himself does not find anything wrong with this. He is only glad that people who previously listened only to the “light” genre come to listen to him at the opera. Perhaps they are coming for the first time.

Andrea was born in the small village of Lajatico, in the province of Tuscany. He was always engrossed in opera music. He always loved to sing. As a teenager, Bocelli even won several singing competitions and was a soloist in the school choir. At the age of six he began learning to play the piano, then mastered the flute and saxophone. “When I was young, I spent all the money I earned on instruments. But over time, I realized that I have a unique instrument, which also does not require additional costs - a voice,” says the singer. He still tries to play instruments in his free moments. He admits that he does best on the piano; he studied longer.

Over time, young Bocelli's dreams of a musical career collided with reality. Andrea went to study in Pisa. After graduating from university, he was supposed to get a lawyer's degree. But he did not forget about his old dream - to become famous musician. In Turin, he meets his idol Franco Corelli, having come specially for this purpose to audition. His career as a lawyer was ended. Now he studied music during the day and performed in restaurants at night. The courts of Pisa never received the young lawyer. But he still received his diploma.

They say fate will find it on the stove. 1994 becomes a fateful year for Bocelli. His debut on music festival in San Remo can be called a huge success. Andrea received the highest score ever given to a singer in the New Artist category. He performed there with the song "Il mare calmo della sera". In the same year, Andrea was personally invited by Luciano Pavarotti to participate in a concert in Modena. He performed both solo and in duet with Luciano himself. Later Andrea sang at Pavarotti's wedding. And on Christmas Eve 1994, he even performed before the Pope. Bill Clinton invited Bocelli to speak at the White House at a meeting with Democrats.

According to a survey by People magazine, Bocelli was recognized as one of the most charming men. His discs sell millions of copies on all continents.

The musician’s personal life also turned out well. He is married and has two sons, Amos and Mateo. “First of all, they are part of the audience that comes to concerts. They are my first critics and pour salt into the wounds without looking back. At home they have been listening to opera since childhood. Every day they hear daddy sing. This is not surprising for them,” says Bocelli.

Of course, the main place in Bocelli's life is music, but he also has many other hobbies. Since childhood, he loved horses. Andrea loves these beautiful and hardy animals very much. His blindness did not prevent him from becoming a good horseman. Andrea is good at chess and skiing, can make any descent and wonders why this surprises others so much. He even went to the mountains with friends! Not to prove anything to anyone, but because I wanted to be close to them. He couldn't wait at the hotel for them to return. He is also a good cook, despite his illness. During a visit to St. Petersburg, he highly appreciated Russian cuisine and even asked the chef for the recipe for some dishes.

Bocelli claims that he is not afraid of difficulties. “I behave like Kutuzov,” he says. - "Always"…

Was called the "fourth tenor" in modern world opera art. Student of Luciano Pavarotti and Zucchero Fornaciari, blind vocalist, of Tuscan origin, who became one of the most beautiful voices modern opera. His hits with Pavarotti, and tours with Fornaciari, brought him international attention. However, opera represents only one side of his multifaceted musical persona.

Bocelli is a successful performer, both in opera and in performances with many pop singers, having recorded duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman and Erosam Ramazzotti.

Email Gerro, who sang with Bocelli in the night graduation ceremonies in November 1995, spoke highly of Bocelli when he said: "I had the honor of singing with the most beautiful voice in the world."

Bocelli grew up on a farm in Lajatico, a village in Tuscany, Italy. He started his musical creativity starting with piano lessons at the age of six, later adding flute and saxophone lessons.

Unfortunately, Andrea was born with poor eyesight, and tragic accident became completely blind as a child, at the age of 12, after an accident. Despite his obvious musical talents, Bocelli did not consider his future career and role in the field of music, so he studied law at the University of Pisa, where he even received a doctorate in law. Always inspired to play music, he began studying with the famous tenor Franco Corelli, constantly maintaining and developing his voice.

Bocelli's debut as a singer came in 1992, when Fornaciari auditioned the future tenor to record a demo of "Miserere", which he co-wrote with U2's Bono. Having passed the audition successfully, Bocelli recorded this composition in a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. After touring with Fornaciari in 1993, Bocelli performed as a guest at International Festival Pavarotti, which took place in Modena in September 1994. In addition to performing a solo duet with Pavarotti, Bocelli sang with Bryan Adams, Andreas Vollenweider and Nancy Gustafson.

In November 1995, Bocelli toured Holland, Belgium, Germany, Spain and France with Al Jarreau, Bryan Ferry, Roger Hodgson and John Miles.

It was these joint compositions that were included in the first two albums - Andrea Bocelli in 1994. His third attempt and album, "Viaggio Italiano", brought famous arias and folk songs from Naples, although this album was released only in Italy, it sold at an incredible rate, selling more than 300,000 copies.

With his fourth album, Romances, which was released in 1997, Bocelli turned to pop music. The album included hits ("& Time To Say Goodbye"), it was vocal duet with Sarah Brightman.

Bocelli continued to focus on pop ballads and on his fifth album, Sogno, released in 1999, sang a duet with Celine Dion, the album sold more than ten million copies, won a Golden Globe Award, and subsequently led leading to Bocelli being nominated for a Grammy.

Despite his blindness, Andrea Bocelli was able to achieve the highest achievements thanks to his perseverance and hard work.

He continues to create and delight us with his in a wonderful voice and creativity.

Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli Net Worth, Salary, Cars & Houses

Estimated Net Worth	40 million dollars Celebrity Net Worth Revealed: The 55 Richest Actors Alive in 2019!
Yearly Salary	N/A SURPRISING: The 10 Best Salaries in Television!
Product Endorsements	Starlite
Colleagues	Charice Pempengco

Houses

• Forte dei Marmi house ($6 million) (Swimming Pool Jacuzzi Sauna Home Cinema Home Office)

Cars

Maserati Quattroporte

MUST READ: 10 Whopping Homes & Cars Of Celebrities That Will Amaze You!

Andrea Bocelli: Wife, Dating, Family & Friends

Andrea Bocelli with beautiful, Wife Veronica Berti
Who is Andrea Bocelli dating in 2019?

Relationship status	Married (Since 2002)
Sexuality	Straight
Current Wife of Andrea Bocelli	Veronica Berti
Ex-girlfriends or ex-wives	Enrica Bocelli
More info	Was previously married and divorced
Has any kids?	Yes, father of: Amos Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli, Virginia Bocelli

Will the marriage of Italian musician Andrea Bocelli and current Wife, Veronica Berti survive 2019?

Names of father, mother, children, brothers & sisters.

Alessandro Bocelli (Father)Edi Bocelli (Mother)Amos Bocelli (Son)Matteo Bocelli (Son)Virginia Bocelli (Daughter)

Friends

Skin, Hair & Eye color

This friendly musician originating from Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy has a chubby body & square face type. Andrea Bocelli makes commercials for Andrea Bocelli, but actually uses: Girard Perregaux.

Hair color	Gray
Hair type	Straight
Hair Length	near-shaved hair
Hairstyle	alternative
Distinct feature	hair color
Skin Tone/Complexion	Type II: Fair skin
Skin Type	Normal
Beard or Mustache	Beard, Mustache,
Eye color	Brown
Does Andrea Bocelli smoke?	No, never CAUGHT SMOKING: The 60 Most Shocking Celebrity Smokers!

Andrea Bocelli - 2019 Gray hair & alternative hair style.

Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos & Style

Height	187 cm
Weight	79 kilo	Clothing style	fashionable
Favorite colors	black
Feet size	12
Biceps	31
Waist size	120
Buste size	168
Butt size	138
Does Andrea Bocelli have a tattoo?	No Official websites/fansites: www.andreabocelli.com Does Andrea Bocelli have official Social Media profiles?