Biography
The famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli was born in September 1958 in the small village of Lajatico, which is located in Tuscany. The boy's family had nothing to do with music. Parents were engaged in their own farming, they kept a farm with vineyards.
Since childhood, Andrea has been diagnosed with an eye disease. His vision was rapidly deteriorating, and he constantly had to undergo operations. During periods of rehabilitation, the boy was saved by a record player with records of Italian operas, which he could listen to for hours. Unbeknownst to himself, Andrea began to hum the famous melodies and learn them. Gradually, the boy mastered playing the piano, flute, and even took saxophone lessons.
Andrea Bocelli in childhood
At the age of 12, the future singer suffered a head injury while playing ball. The doctors' diagnosis sounded like a death sentence - a complication of glaucoma, which made the child blind. But this did not stop Andrea on the path to her dream. He finally confirmed his intention to become a singer. The young man continued to lead a normal life.
In addition to studying at the law university, he takes lessons from Luciano Bettarini, under whose guidance he performs at local music competitions. In her youth, in order to pay for her education, Andrea had to combine studying with singing in cafes and restaurants. Another teacher who helped Andrea master the art of singing was Franco Corelli.
Creation
The year 1992 turned out to be a turning point in the biography of Andrea Bocelli: his recording of the song “Miserere” ended up with the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who was amazed at the singing skill of a non-professional. From this time on, Andrea Bocelli's ascent to the Olympus of fame began.
Andrea Bocelli in his youth
A year later, he received first prize at the Sanremo festival in the “Discovery of the Year” category. A year later, he entered the top Italian performers with the musical composition “Il mare calmo della sera”, which became a hit on the singer’s first album. The collection immediately sold out in millions of copies in Italy.
The second album, entitled "Bocelli", also went platinum and was a huge success throughout Europe. Bocelli is invited to give concerts in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In 1995, he had the honor of speaking before the Pope at the Vatican and receiving his blessing.
Andrea Bocelli
If the singer's first albums presented only classical opera music, then by the time the third disc was written, famous Neapolitan songs appeared in the repertoire of the singer, who sings with his eyes closed.
The fourth collection “Romanza” consisted entirely of hit pop compositions. With the single “Time to say Goodbye,” which the young Italian performs together with Sarah Brightman, he conquers the whole world, after which he goes on a tour of North America.
Andrea Bocelli has an invariably good taste for beautiful melodies and beautiful voices. In 1999, he sang the hit “The Prayer” with Celine Dion, for which he received the Golden Globe Awards. Together with Canadian singer Lara Fabian, whom all music critics call the owner of an “angelic voice,” Andrea performed the song “Vivo per lei.”
The golden tenor participates not only in duets with stars. So the Italian gave his song “Con te partiro” to the young French singer Gregory Lemarchal, who was sick with cystic fibrosis. Unfortunately, the talented singer died before he was 24 years old. There are many photos and videos of Gregory Lemarchal left online.
In 2020, Bocelli performed a duet with rising American star Ariana Grande, performing the single “E Piu Ti Penso” with her.
Andrea Bocelli
His voice is a conductor between the imperfection of the surrounding reality and the impeccable spiritual beauty that opens up like flowers with dawn rays when the music begins to sound. Andrea Bocelli is a truly outstanding modern performer, a man marked by inimitable talent, a singer who turned the Italian language into an intuitive one for everyone whose heart has at least once been in the grip of all-consuming love.
Read a short biography of Andrea Bocelli and many interesting facts about the singer on our page.
short biography
Andrea Bocelli was born in a small Italian commune in the province of Pisa in 1958, on September 22. As a child, he began to study music, from the age of 6 he learned to play the piano, then the saxophone and flute . At the age of 14, the boy won his first music competition, where he performed the famous song “O Sole Mio”. However, creative fulfillment in the family was treated more like a hobby than a lifelong endeavor and a serious profession.
At the insistence of his parents, Andrea entered the University of Pisa, the Faculty of Law. While a student, Bocelli worked part-time in night bars as a guest musician and performer. The money earned was used to pay for studies. Upon completion of training, the graduate received a diploma, and with it the opportunity to work as a public defender. However, a successful legal practice was not the ultimate dream for the future celebrity. Andrea did not give up trying to realize himself in art: he took vocal lessons from opera singer Franco Corelli.
In 1992, a significant event occurred in the singer’s musical career. Bocelli met the Italian popular performer Adelmo Fornaciari, known under the creative pseudonym Zucchero. It was he who asked Andrea to record a demo version of the composition “Miserere”, which later became a real discovery in the world of opera and popular music. Bocelli's voice made an indelible impression on Luciano Pavarotti.
The debut album was recorded in 1994, the record was called “Il mare calmo della sera” and made the name of the native of Tuscany famous throughout Europe. A year later, Bocelli recorded a cult song that made the singer famous throughout the world, about the legendary composition “Con te partiro”. The English-language version was created jointly with the British actress and singer, owner of the recognizable soprano Sarah Bry, and instantly became a worldwide hit. In 1997, the collection “Romanza” was released, which presented Bocelli’s best songs from previous albums. “Romanza” sold 15 million copies, the voice of the unsurpassed maestro sounded in all parts of the world, and even then the world reverently applauded the tenor, who was capable of touching people’s hearts with his enchanting sound.
In 1998, Bocelli made his debut on the opera stage. The event took place at the Comunale Theater in the Italian town of Cagliari. The singer took part in the production of La bohème by Giacomo Puccini , performing the parts of the main character Rodolfo. Subsequently, from 2000 to 2020, Bocelli released 13 albums with opera arias (“ Manon Lescaut ,” “Turandot,” “ Aida ” are just some of the names of the records that became a long-awaited event for true connoisseurs of the classics).
In 1999, Bocelli released the album “Sogno”, which included a duet with Canadian singer Celine Dion “Prayer”. The record was a huge commercial success. A year earlier, Andrea demonstrated impeccable skill by recording an album consisting entirely of classical opera arias (“Aria: The Opera Album”). This work received wide recognition not only among fans of operetta and opera, but also among connoisseurs of the popular genre, which once again confirmed the versatility and versatility of the Italian singer’s talent.
In 2002, work on the album “Sentimento” was completed. A distinctive feature of the recording of the compositions was the musical accompaniment of the famous London Symphony Orchestra. Four years later, the album “Amore” appeared, its release was timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day, the disc contained a recording of Elvis Presley’s song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in a new, original version. The same collection includes a duet with Christina Aguilera (“It’s Impossible”). For Catholic Christmas 2006, Bocelli gave his fans another gift: the album “My Christmas”, which “absorbed” the best holiday songs in English, German, French and, of course, Italian. The collection became one of the best-selling in Europe at that time; its original highlight was the touching song “God Bless Us Everyone.” In 2013, another album was recorded with heartfelt ballads about love and a title corresponding to the lyrical content - “Passione”. Nelly Furtado and Jennifer Lopez took part in the recording of the album.
From the beginning of the 2000s to the present, Andrea Bocelli has been actively touring, recording new albums, and acting as the author and co-author of biographical works. In the period from 2002 to 2011, 5 books in the genre of memoirs were published (series “The music of silence”). Fall 2020 was marked by the release of the single “Fall On Me.” The composition was recorded together with the artist’s youngest son, Matteo, and subsequently became part of the album “Si”, work on which was completed in October 2020.
Interesting Facts
- Bocelli was confident in his own destiny from a very early age. Even as a child, he said that music would help him cope with any adversity in life, and this turned out to be true; Andrea found healing in music. He knew that he would sing, the only thing he was not sure about was how successful he would be as a performer. However, time has left no doubts. Currently, the singer's financial condition is estimated at at least 30 million pounds sterling.
- As a child, Andrea was diagnosed with a congenital eye disease - glaucoma. The mother of the future star was even advised to terminate the pregnancy, notifying in advance that the child would have serious health problems. However, the boy was not completely blind until he was 12 years old. Bocelli lost his sight as a result of a head injury received while playing football and causing hemorrhage.
- Andrea has a younger brother, Alberto. He and his mother continue to live on the family estate in the village of La Sterza, 40 km from Pisa.
- Sometimes critics express the opinion that compositions performed by Bocelli turn out to be too “light” to correspond to the serious operatic genre. However, the singer himself refuses to position himself as an exclusively classical performer. He deliberately delves into the popular genre in order to expand his audience, although he admits that opera was and remains his first, and therefore true love.
- Bocelli's hobby is horse riding. He is also a passionate fan who never misses a chance to support his favorite football club, Inter Milan. Andrea decided on his sporting preferences back in his student years and has never changed his favorite since then.
- Despite the huge number of public appearances, Andrea Bocelli was never able to cope with the feeling of fear and a certain trepidation before the concert. He admits that every appearance on stage is an overcoming for him. This is the need to share something secret, intimate, something that is hidden in the depths of the soul and becomes available to the public through his voice.
- Bocelli admires Immanuel Kant. He considers this German philosopher to be the greatest thinker in the world, who “confessed” the sacred truth: man is never a means, but an end.
- Despite the fact that Bocelli worked in the legal field for only a year, he is convinced that he could achieve success in this field. The need to compete and prove his competitiveness is in his blood.
- The great tenor has a special, original attitude towards music. According to the singer, society is fed up with diverse sounds. Perceiving music as a medicine, a unique remedy that can heal and give relief, Bocelli is convinced that oversaturation will soon neutralize the positive impact, people will lose the ability to penetrate and feel the melodies in their true beauty.
- In April 2000, Bocelli's father died. The tragic news overtook the singer on the eve of his performance before Pope John Paul II in Rome. Andrea fulfilled his obligations, succumbing solely to the urgent persuasion of his mother, and only then did he immediately return to the funeral.
- Bocelli is extremely attached to his home in Tuscany. Traveling to different cities and continents is a forced necessity for him, and not a conscious desire, which many strive to fulfill; Only in Italy does the singer feel true calm, peace and harmony.
- In 1998, People magazine included Andrea Bocelli in its list of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. However, the singer himself is rather reserved about the image that arose in him in connection with his active creative activity. He once admitted that he would prefer to be considered an intellectual rather than a macho man.
- Andrea considers the birth of her daughter to be something of a blessing. When Veronica was still pregnant, the happy father was already performing songs intended for one listener - the baby in the mother's womb.
- The Bocelli family owns its own wine production. The drink, made from grapes grown on the singer’s farm, is sold under the Bocelli Family brand. The wine demonstrates excellent quality and is popular among connoisseurs.
- In 2020, the singer’s dream came true - he recorded the studio album “Cinema”, which collected soundtracks from his favorite films, including from the films “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (“Moon river”) and “Scent of a Woman” (“Por uno”) cabeza"). The album also includes tracks recorded together with world pop stars such as Ariana Grande and Nicole Scherzinger.
- Bocelli and Pavarotti had a real strong male friendship, despite the fact that there was patronage in their relationship. At the dawn of Andrea’s musical career, the famous Italian opera singer provided him with significant support and included him in the lineup of invited performers to perform at the annual charity concert “Pavarotti International”, held in the city of Modena.
Best songs
“ Con Te Partiro ” - the composition was first performed at a festival in the resort town of San Remo in 1995. The released single of the same name was a huge success in Europe and for a long period topped the charts in France and Belgium.
"Con Te Partiro" (listen)
“ Vivo per Lei ” - the lyrics of the song have been translated into several languages, including German and French, Bocelli performed “Living for Her” with famous singers such as Helen Segara, Judy Weiss, Lara Fabian , Marta Sanchez.
"Vivo per Lei" (listen)
“ The Prayer ” is a soulful duet with Celine Dion. The recording, created in 1998, collected the most sublime epithets from critics, who were literally delighted. It was noted that the song, although it does not quite fit into the format of the radio broadcast, amazes with its touchingness, special grace and even “goosebumps.” The song served as the soundtrack to the animated film “The Magic Sword: Camelot Rescue,” which was released the same year.
"The Prayer" (listen)
Personal life
In the summer of 1992, Andrea Bocelli married Enrica Cenzatti, a woman he met while working in a music bar. After 2.5 years, the first child appeared in the family, the boy was named Amos. In the fall of 1997, Matteo was born. In 2002, Andrea divorced his wife, the reason being frequent separations associated with the singer’s busy touring schedule.
Soon Bocelli met Veronica Berti, who later became his personal impresario. In March 2012, the couple had a daughter, Virginia. The wedding of Andrea and Veronica took place in 2014, the groom was 55 years old at that time, and the bride was 30.
Awards and prizes
In 1999 and 2000, Bocelli was awarded Grammy Awards for his wins in the categories “Best Male Popular Vocal Performance” (“Sogno”) and “Best Duet” (“The Prayer”). The singer also has 7 prestigious World Music Awards and 6 Classical BRITS Awards, one of which was awarded in the category “For Outstanding Contribution to Music.” In 2006, the talented singer became a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
The performer is the owner of his own star on the All of Fame in the area of the world's dream factory, in Hollywood. The ceremony of joining the elite of world show business took place in early March 2010.
Andrea Bocelli has never hidden the fact that he is a true Catholic. He calls singing a unique form of prayer, which allows you to turn to God together with your listeners and experience sincere, pure, peaceful joy. His songs are always a dialogue between two hearts, open to the understanding that faith and love walk hand in hand along the path leading to immortality.
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Video: listen to Andrea Bocelli
Personal life
While still a law student, Andrea met his first wife, Enrica Cenzatti. Five years after they first met in 1992, the couple got married. The birth of two sons, Amos and Matteo, coincided with the rise of Bocelli's popularity. The singer's constant travel and filming on television began to interfere with his family happiness, and after some time Enrica filed for divorce. In 2002, the family broke up.
Andrea Bocelli and Enrica Cenzatti with their sons
But Andrea Bocelli did not remain a bachelor for long. At the age of 33, he met an 18-year-old girl, Veronica Berti, daughter of maestro Ivano Berti. An affair began between the young people, and after some time they began to live together. Veronica became not only the wife of the famous tenor, but also his director.
Andrea Bocelli with his wife Veronica
After some time, Bocelli's older children moved to his new family. And in 2012, the happy family was expecting a new addition: baby Virginia Bocelli was born.
Family and personal life
Bocelli's success is associated not only with his talent, but also with his greatest vitality. After losing his vision, the singer did not fall into depression, but continued to work on himself. He constantly smiles and holds charity concerts for his fans.
Music is the meaning of a tenor’s life, and this feeling is conveyed to his listeners. It introduces to the culture even those who initially do not see anything special in opera.
At the same time, the singer tries to lead an active lifestyle. He is an equestrian, enjoys skiing and spending time playing with children. The tenor also respects intellectual entertainment; he especially likes playing chess. His passion for his work made Andrea incredibly attractive to women, many of whom were hopelessly in love with the artist.
The singer met his first wife at a young age, when he performed in restaurants. It was there that he met the girl Enrica, who later gave birth to the tenor’s two beloved children. But a few years later, in 2002, the couple divorced. The reason was disagreement due to the artist’s constant tours.
After the breakup, Andrea entered into a relationship with colleague Veronica Berti. According to the singer, she inspired his creativity, and the girl also accompanied him on tour while serving as a manager. After a twelve-year relationship, a man and a woman finally decided to legalize their relationship.
Bocelli in Russia
In Russia, Italian singers have always been received with delight, and Andrea Bocelli was no exception. The phenomenal tenor immediately fell in love with Russians, and he made many friends in Moscow.
Andrea Bocelli
His first concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg took place in 2007. A few years later, Bocelli happily accepted an invitation from Gazprom to perform at a gala evening, which was organized in honor of the anniversary of a large company.
In addition, the singer performs at the 60th anniversary of composer Igor Krutoy, with whom he became great friends.
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 the wonderful 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 a well-known performer, and with the song “Il mare calmo della sera” (“The Quiet Evening Sea”) he received 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.
Andrea Bocelli now
At the beginning of 2020, Andrea Bocelli visited Russia again and met the Russian pop star, singer Zara. The Italian musician appreciated the professionalism of the young artist and offered to perform three duets together at her Kremlin concert. In addition to the world-famous singles “The Prayer” and “Time To Say Goodbye”, Andrea Bocelli sang a new duet “La Grande Storia” with Zara.
Today, the best-selling performer of classical music and Italian pop hits lives on his estate near the town in which he was born. In addition to music, the maestro is involved with horses: on his farm there is a small horse breeding facility. His loved ones are his beloved wife Veronica and little daughter Virginia, who loves singing more than anything else, which endlessly pleases her father.
