World-Renowned Opera and Classical singer Andrea Bocelli performed at the Hollywood Bowl Sunday night (10/24) which was rescheduled from June of last year.
When it comes to higher ticket prices, Bocelli makes the top of the list, but it’s always worth the price. In the entire 20th and 21st century few singers have been globally known like Bocelli. Just last month Bocelli turned 63 and his voice is still perfect. Joining Bocelli throughout the show was the incredible Larisa Martinez.
Bocelli has been awarded a Guinness World Record for his album Sacred Arias for simultaneously holding the top three spots on the U.S. Classical Albums chart, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and is a seven time World Music Award winner.
Outside of music Bocelli has earned a law degree. Bocelli can sing in English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin. Bocelli also had the best selling Classical album by a solo artist of all time with Sacred Arias. Just this past November, Bocelli released his latest album Believe including covers of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and “Amazing Grace,” with Allison Krauss, both which were performed last night.
Many consider Bocelli to be the greatest Classical and Italian singer of today’s generation following a legacy of greats like Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and his teacher Franco Corelli. This 2.5 hour show featured Bocelli with a full orchestra and a few guests throughout the night. Opera singers like Bocelli are known for unforgettable duets and his duets that night were very memorable. One very memorable part was cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson showing her skills as a string player but then blew everyone away a second time with her vocals especially on a cover of The Police’s “Roxane.” Johnson played the cello as if it was an upright bass with a bow and also a tapping technique I’ve never seen before.
Bocelli brought his 24 year old son Matteo up to sing. Matteo had been sitting in the audience and walked through the Garden Boxes up to the stage. Matteo blew the crowd away by not only his age but how comparable his voice is to his fathers already. Matteo also sang alone with the orchestra for his song “Solo.” Matteo wasn’t the only family member to join in, Bocelli’s 9 year old daughter Virginia joined her father for “Hallelujah.” There’s always some humor at a Bocelli show and the joke of the evening came when he was holding a classical guitar and saying he plays guitar on the beach to meet a girl and brought out his baby girl. Bocelli joked how Virginia speaks better English than him. Virginia easily became one of the youngest performers in Hollywood Bowl history last night. They also mentioned that very guitar would be auctioned following the show.
In 2019 actor/singer Jamie Foxx joined in for Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” This time the great Jennifer Hudson came out for “Amazing Grace.” If there was one song that left the audience in tears it was the incredible “Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro).” On select songs Bocelli had dancers. If there is any artist to see today that’ll blow anyone away, it’s Andrea Bocelli. The show left the crowd in awe and stunned.
