Andre Bocelli

Andre Bocelli
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Glendale’s Jobbing.com Arena was the venue for Andre Bocelli December 14th, 2007.

What a voice. He filled the arena with such a bold and emotional tenor that it didn’t matter if it was in Italian, and the majority of the audience were unfamiliar with most of the arias from operas he performed. The passion came through with such force as to bring tears to your eyes anyway.

Bocelli, a disciple of Luciano Pavarotti, spoke of the great loss of his friend and dedicated his performance to the memory of his mentor and sang "Nessum Dorma", Pavarotti’s signature song. He said, “Tonight he is with us.” It was so beautiful and heart felt. You could feel the love he put into that song.

And for additional motivation for a magnificent performance, Bocelli said he was performing for his personal hero and special guest in the front row. To the audience’s surprise, Muhammad Ali, former three-time World Heavyweight Champion stood up to wave. As the camera came into focus on his face on the big screens, a roar of applause filled the arena. Bocelli ended the concert donning a pair of boxing gloves autographed by the Champ.

There has been much criticism of this concert tour where most dates are booked into large arenas or venues not particularly suited to the esthetic sounds of opera. But they are the only places large enough to accommodate the massive audiences who rush to see this charismatic singer. Glendale’s Jobbing.com Arena was no exception to the criticism depending on where you were seated. On the floor near the stage sound and lighting were pretty good. The only complaint was the cold. With ice under the flooring it’s bound to be pretty chilly. On the upper levels the concourse noise was surprisingly loud and freezing air from doors open to the outside made the distractions pretty annoying.

But the voices and music were still incredibly amazing. The New West Symphony Conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio was perfection. Mercurio opened with Verdi’s “Overture from I vespri siciliani”. And for an arena, the sound system of the nearly new Glendale arena is state of the art providing the best possible sound in the cavernous area.

Bocelli opened with "La donna e mobile" from Verdi's Rigoletto, which has great popular appeal and is even familiar to non-opera aficionados. Baritone Luis Ledesma joined Bocelli onstage in the duet “In un coup” from Puccini’s La Boheme. Next Soprano Daniela Bruera took the stage with Verdi's “Ah, Fors'e Lui, Sempre Libera” from La Traviata. Bocelli joined on stage for another aria from La Traviata “Brindisi”.

Maestro Mercurio conducted “Intermezzo” from Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini.

Ledesma returned with a beautifully intense performance of Puccini’s “Te Deum” from Tosca. Bocelli followed with the famous aria from Tosca’s violent conclusion “E Lucevan le Stelle”. The first act was concluded with a rather long Madama Butterfly’s “Viene la sera” with Bocelli and Bruera. The scenes from the opera were played on a large screen behind the orchestra. It was beautifully sung, but a little long for the restless audience.

One couple I spoke to said, “We were expecting a show with more "popera" than opera.” The same was echoed by several others who knew Bocelli more from his pop performances on PBS and on Pop radio stations and television, than from his operatic career for which he is celebrated the world over.

After the Intermission they got their wish for some pop.

Mercurio opened the second act with “Overture from Russian and Ludmilla” by composer Mikhail Glinka, often called the father of Russian classical music.

Then Bocelli gave the gift of his beautiful “Ave Maria” by Schubert, followed by the sacred aria “Panis Angelicus” holding the final note in a mood of veneration for a small eternity.

Daniela Bruera brought a bit of German opera to the stage with “Meine Lippen, Sie Kussen So Heiss” from Franz Lehár's Giuditta.

“Musica Proibita”, “Aranjuez”, and “Mattinata” all by Bocelli followed.

At this point Andrea returned to the stage wearing the white jacket saying it was time for a change of pace. He played the flute at the beginning of the “Melodramma”. Then Heather Headley joined him on stage for “Canto della terre” and “The Prayer”.
The finale was “Time to Say Goodbye” with Daniela Bruera. It is considered Bocelli's signature song and what was obviously what the audience wanted to hear from the beginning. A long and appreciative standing ovation followed.

I can not say enough about Maestro Steven Mercurio and his devoted attention and obvious friendship he bestows on Andrea leading him onto stage and together delivering a most memorable performance. Ticket Prices: $81-$281

Bocelli recently issued “The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivire”, his first hits collection. It features his signature “Time to Say Goodbye”.