Post by Ms. Kathy on Jun 21, 2004 4:51:14 GMT -6
Photo from www.deccaclassics.com/Also see fan sites for Andrea at www.bocelli.de/en/index.htm
and www.andreabocelli.org/home
Andrea Bocelli was born September 22, 1958 in Lajatico in the Province of Pisa, Italy.
In early childhood he began to play the organ in church.
In his own words :"The region's traditions, as well as my parents' influence have taught me never to accept life's difficulties in a passive way, but rather to draw strength from them.
As far as I can remember, no moments in my life have gone by without being filled with passion for music. Italy's greatest tenors, such as Del Monaco, Gigli, and especially Corelli, have always inspired great admiration and enthusiasm in me since I was just a boy. In love with opera, the dream and ambition of my whole life is to become a great tenor.
Despite the fact that I live in a fast-paced world, I live my life with a calm vision: I enjoy life's simple pleasures and face every challenge with passion. I try to always be optimistic by interpreting the real meaning of a quotation from the French novelist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "You see clearly only through your heart. The essential is invisible to your eyes."
In 1970 at the age of 12 Andrea won his first song competition, the Margherita d'Oro in Viareggio with "O sole mio".
After concluding his studies, Andrea works for a year as a lawyer, then dedicates himself completely to music. He takes singing lessons from Bettarini, until the maestro died in 1997 at the age of 83.
In the spring of 1992, the Italian rock star Zucchero looks for a tenor to make a demo of "Miserere", a song composed by him and U2's Bono, which he hopes to convince Luciano Pavarotti to sing in duet with him. He comes upon Andrea, who "sings with his soul". When Pavarotti hears the demo, he says, "Who is this fellow? You don't need me. I could not do better!" However, the duet with Pavarotti/Zucchero is made. In that same year Andrea married Enrica.
In the summer of the following year, he toured with Zucchero throughout Europe in live concerts, singing Pavarotti's part in "Miserere." As a solo number, he sings something quite uncommon for a rock star: "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's TURANDOT and receives great applause for it.
On December 28, he debuts in world of classical music in a concert at the Teatro Romolo Valli in Reggio Emilia.
In 1994 his first CD, "Il Mare Calmo Della Sera" appears, for which he received this Golden Disc, his first one.
In September, he is invited to appear with Pavarotti at his benefit concert "Pavarotti International" in Modena.
In September he makes his debut in an opera role,
playing Macduff in Verdi's MACBETH in the Teatro Verdi in Pisa.
At Christmas, he sings Rome before the Pope..
February 22, 1995,, his first son Amos is born (February 22).
[1997
His fourth album "Romanza" appears in the spring.
On March 3, he appears with Sarah Brightman in Hamburg, Germany, to receive the Echo award for "Best Single of the Year.
On October 8, his second son Matteo was born. .
On April 19,1998 he steps onto the stage of American show business. He gives a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington and the next day President Clinton receives him at the White House.
On May 5, he appears in Monte Carlo and wins two World Music Awards, one in the category "Best Italian Singer," and one for "Best Classical Interpretation".
In September, he receives his next Echo Klassik for the best-selling classical album "Aria".
In November, he sings "The Prayer" with Celine Dion on her Christmas special. His popularity in the USA increases. Celine Dion introduces him with the words:
"I heard someone say: If God had a singing voice, he would sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli."
On January 25, 1999 he sings "The Prayer" for the soundtrack of Warner Bros. animated film "Quest for Camelot".
As well as the solo, Andrea sings the duet with Celine Dion, which wins the Golden Globe in Los Angeles.
At the Grammys on February 24 in Los Angeles, Andrea is one of five nominated for "Best New Artist."
At the presentation of the Oscars on March 21, Andrea and Celine sing the "Best Song" nominee, "The Prayer".
From April 11 to April 24, he tours the West coast of America. He finishes his concerts, from San Diego to Vancouver, with a triumphant appearance before more than 18,000 spectators at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
On May 15, at the invitation of Steven Spielberg, Andrea sings in Los Angeles before President Clinton.
On June 27 he participates at the Michael Jackson benefit concert for suffering children in Munich's Olympic Stadium.
In November he becomes the first vocalist to hold the top three places on the US classical album charts: With his album Sacred Arias, Aria - The Opera Album and Viaggio Italiano. Invited by the Queen of England, he participates at her annual Royal Variety Performance in Birmingham on November 29.
On November 30, his book "La musica del silenzio," an autobiographical novel, is released in Italy.
At the 42nd Grammy award on February 23, 2000 in Los Angeles he is nominated twice: as "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" and as "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals"
At the annual NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) Gala of the Italian-Americans in Washington in the presence of US President Clinton on the 28th, he sings via satellite from Lucca, accompanied by the Youth Orchestra of the Boccherini-Institute. At the same time he is presented the award of Italian-American friendship .
During the summer of 2001 he films the video/DVD for his new CD Cieli di Toscana in the most beautiful places of Tuscany.
On September 25 he takes the occasion for a statement for peace on earth during a Milan Fashion Show of Massimo Rebecchi : "After the horrible attacks on the United States two weeks ago, we need some beauty in our lives." In October, Andrea is presented a special award for more than 40 million sold albums worldwide.
On October 28, at the invitation of New York's mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Andrea sings Schubert's "Ave Maria," as a representative of the Catholic faith, during the memorial concert at Ground Zero for the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11.
In November he is given the Platinum Europe Award for more than one million copies sold of his last CD, "Cieli di Toscana".
On March 6 2002 Andrea receives two World Music Awards in Monte Carlo: World best selling classical artist and Best selling Italian artist .
On May 23rd he receives the Classical Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
On May 27 Andrea sings for George W. Bush and Italian State President Silvio Berlusconi at the villa Madama in Rome. At the commemoration of September 11, he sings "Ave Maria" at the United States embassy in Rome.
On October 14 he and Maestro Lorin Maazel present his new CD "Sentimento" to a worldwide audience.
In March 2003 for the first time Andrea appears as a producer, not as a singer, at the Italian song Festival of San Remo, where the young artists Allunati and Jacqueline Ferry sing for his newly founded record label, Clacksong.
In May his second complete opera, Tosca, is released and enters the worldwide classical charts in high positions.
On the occasion of a private benefit gala for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, UK, Andrea sings in front of Great Britain's Royal family.
One day later, on May 22, he receives two awards for Sentimento at the Classic Brits 2003 in London’s Royal Albert Hall