Blind Italian singer Bocelli. Andrea Bocelli - the magical voice of Italy

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Andrea Bocelli: Wife, Dating, Family & Friends

Despite serious health problems, singer from Italy Andrea Bocelli managed to achieve real heights and become famous throughout the world. He is considered one of the most talented opera performers of our time. So how could a boy from a simple family achieve such dizzying success? Read in this article!

Andrea Bocelli: biography

Andrea was born in September 1958, in the small village of Lajatico, located in Tuscany. Today the performer is sixty years old.

An important point in the biography of Andrea Bocelli in the photo: he was awarded a Hollywood star on the Walk of Fame.

Health problems

Back in early childhood Bocelli was diagnosed with a serious eye disease. The boy's vision was falling at an incredible rate, and he was forced to constantly undergo operations.

During rehabilitation from sadness, Andrea was helped by a record player with records of Italian operas. The boy could listen to them for hours on end, imperceptibly beginning to hum melodies and memorize them. Over time, Bocelli mastered the piano, flute and even learned to play the saxophone.

At the age of twelve, Andrea suffered a head injury while playing ball. The diagnosis was disappointing: a complication of glaucoma that made the boy completely blind.

Childhood and youth

Andrea Bocelli's family was never interested in music or other creative professions. His parents ran their own farm - they owned a farm with a vineyard.

Despite his illness, Bocelli had no intention of backing down and stubbornly pursued his dream. Problems only spurred the boy on and convinced him that he wanted to connect his life with music. Despite his blindness, Andrea continued to lead a normal life, no different from the lives of his peers.

While studying at the law university, the young man simultaneously took music lessons from Luciano Bettarini and, under his strict guidance, participated in musical competitions. Trying to earn money for his studies, Andrea combined studies at the university and singing in various cafes and restaurants. Also on creative path Bocelli was helped by another teacher - Franco Corelli.

Personal life

Family plays an important role in the biography of Andrea Bocelli. Andrea met his first wife, Enrica Cenzatti, while still studying at the law academy. Five years after their meeting, in 1992, the lovers legalized their relationship by tying the knot.

Children appeared in the family just as Andrea’s popularity grew. Constant performances, tours and filming on television did not provide the opportunity to lead a calm and measured life. family life, therefore, after some time, the wife filed for divorce.

However, the Italian singer's bachelor life did not last long. Soon Andrea Bocelli and his wife appeared in the biography - he met the eighteen-year-old beauty Veronica Berti, who was the daughter of maestro Ivano Berti. A spark ran between them, and after a short time the couple began to live together. Veronica became for Bocelli not only his wife, but also his director.

The personal biography of Andrea Bocelli is no less important than the story of his creative career. Over time, the older children moved into the family of Andrea and Veronica, and in 2012, Virginia Bocelli, the daughter of Veronica and Andrea, was born.

Creative career

The turning point in the biography of Andrea Bocelli occurred in 1992. The recording of the song "Miserere" by the Italian artist was heard by Luciano Pavarotti, the famous opera singer twentieth century. Luciano was amazed at the skill of the unprofessional performer, and since then Andrea Bocelli's career has rapidly taken off.

Literally a year later, he received his first prize in the “Discovery of the Year” category at a festival held in San Remo. After another, Bocelli entered the top performers in Italy with musical composition Il mare calmo della sera, which later became a hit on his first album. At home, Andrea's album sold out in millions of copies in record time.

The second album, called Bocelli, also went platinum. It was appreciated by listeners throughout Europe, and Andrea was invited to concerts in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In 1995, the performer performed before the Pope at the Vatican and received his blessing.

In Andrea's first albums one can find only classical opera songs, while during the writing of the third disc Neapolitan compositions began to appear in the singer's repertoire.

As befits a professional in her field, Andrea has a keen sense of beautiful melodies and voices. In 1999, together with the world famous singer He performed Celine Dion's hit The Prayer, for which he was awarded the Golden Globe Awards. In a duet with Lara Fabian, nicknamed by critics “the owner of an angelic voice,” Bocelli sang the song Vivo per lei.

However, despite its popularity, Italian singer performs in duets not only with international famous stars stage. Andrea Bocelli gave his composition Con te partiro to the French performer Gregory Lemarchal, who suffered from cystic fibrosis. This talented singer died before reaching his twenty-fourth birthday.

Three years ago, in October 2015, Andrea recorded the song E Più Ti Penso together with American pop star Ariana Grande. Subsequently, the video for this composition received more than thirty-four million views on the YouTube video hosting site.

Andrea in Russia

Our country has always loved the work of Italian performers, and Andrea Bocelli was no exception. The Russians really liked the singer's tenor, and Andrea got huge amount friends in Moscow.

The artist's first concerts in Russia took place in 2007, they took place in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A few more years later, Andrea gladly accepted Gazprom’s invitation to perform at a celebration in honor of the anniversary of a large company.

Bocelli also performed at the sixtieth birthday of Igor Krutoy, with whom they quickly became friends.

Andrea Bocelli now

More recently, at the beginning of 2016, Andrea visited Russia again. During the trip, he met Zara, a star Russian stage. Bocelli appreciated her talent and professionalism and himself invited her to sing a duet with him at a concert in the Kremlin. Colleagues performed three songs - the world-famous singles The Prayer and Time To Say Goodbye, as well as new duet La Grande Storia.

Today Andrea Bocelli can be called the world's best-selling performer classical music. The artist lives on his estate not far from the city in which he was born. In addition to music, the Italian singer has other passions: for example, Andrea is passionate about horses, and he even has a small horse breeding farm on his farm.

There is still room in today's biography of Andrea Bocelli for his family and his wife, who never cease to please the performer. The singer's youngest daughter, little Virginia Bocelli, loves singing more than anything else, which brings endless happiness to her father.

Bottom line

The biography of Andrea Bocelli is full of various instructive moments; every fan of his work should read it. Bocelli's story motivates and inspires: it is unlikely that anyone can remain indifferent after reading it. Each of us should remember that, with talent and incomparable perseverance, you can achieve any heights and conquer any heights. This is clearly shown in the biography of Andrea Bocelli: from an ordinary boy suffering from vision problems, the Italian became a world-famous performer of classical music and the author of a huge number of hits. Andrea is called the “golden tenor” and is considered one of the most talented opera performers of our time. All that remains is to wish the singer further development of his career and many years life!

“FACTS” have already reported on the results of a public opinion poll conducted by the American news agency ABC, which set as its goal to determine the most charming person of the year 1999. The Americans gave second place to their first lady, Hillary Clinton. The third was the richest man in the world, the founder of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates. And beyond competition he was famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who was the only foreigner in the top five. Today we want to introduce our readers better to this extraordinary man, whose voice enchants millions of music lovers around the world.

Until recently, Andrea Bocelli was known only to opera lovers. This 40-year-old Italian tenor has come close to recognized stars - Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras. But in the spring of this year, Bocelli recorded the disc “Sogno,” which instantly soared to the top of numerous pop music charts around the world. And the singer’s appearance at the Oscars and Grammy ceremonies only increased interest in his work and personal life.

Andrea Bocelli was born on September 22, 1958 in Pisa. His childhood was spent in the vineyards owned by his father. From birth he had poor eyesight. And at the age of 12, while playing football, a ball hit him in the head. The boy was completely blinded by the strong blow. But this did not break Andrea. He learned to play the flute, clarinet, saxophone, piano, and also studied law. Bocelli was very stubborn and paid for his studies himself, working as a pianist in bars. In 1992, the famous Italian singer Zucchero saw him, who introduced Andrea to Pavarotti. After this, his life changed. Fame and money came to him.

Bocelli is married. His wife Enrique is 27 years old. They met in one of the small nightclubs where the blind singer made his living before becoming famous. The girl fell in love as soon as she heard his voice. She walked over and took his hand. Andrea's heart sank at this touch. And he immediately realized that he was in love. Now the couple jokes that it was love at first touch. They have two sons: 4-year-old Amos and Matteo, who is just one year old. They live near Pisa on the Tuscan coast, trying to lead a secluded lifestyle. Andrea loves her family very much and jealously protects them from media interference. Bocelli admits that he experiences his happiest moments when he is with his wife and children. For him, there is nothing better than returning home after a difficult concert and hearing his family’s voices, feeling the warmth of loved ones and taking his sons in his arms.

And yet, music occupies the main place in an artist’s life. She helped him survive a personal tragedy, and now gives him the opportunity to support his family and live a full life. The singer prefers classical music. He collected large collection records with recordings of opera parts and listens to them with pleasure in the mornings when preparing breakfast for the whole family. At the same time, no one should enter the kitchen. Household members are allowed when the table is fully set. This is a whole ritual in the Bocelli house.

Andrea treats pop music with disdain. He does not hide the fact that he recorded the “Sogno” disc based on financial considerations. His acquaintances with Zucchero, Eros Ramazzotti and Celine Dion played an important role in this. He became friends with the Canadian diva last summer at a dinner party in Bologna. Within five minutes Andrea and Celine found common language, and an hour later the singer offered to record a song with her. Their duet “Prayer” became the beginning of work on the future disc.

But despite the colossal success of Sogno, Bocelli intends to limit himself to operatic works. His dream is to perform in Vienna Opera. He also really wants to learn how to cope with his explosive temper.

“I don’t think you can become a singer on your own. 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 at 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, who 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

The “official” start of Bocelli’s singing career was almost accidental: he took part in the test recording of the famous “Miserere”, which Zucchero Fornaciari arranged 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, while participating 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. Worldwide success comes immediately. 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 classical music disc “Aria” immediately brought 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"Bohemia". After such serious works, in 2001 the “light” album “Cieli di Toscana” (“Tuscany Skies”) 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 over 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, a unique theater under open air is “in silence” 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 many tourists come to see, and once a year Andrea Bocelli performs here.

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 he 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 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 Rachmaninoff 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 category " New artist". 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 a duet with Luciano himself. Later Andrea sang with Pavarotti at a wedding. And on Christmas Eve 1994, Bill Clinton even invited Bocelli to speak at a meeting with Democrats at the White House.

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"…