Bocelli doubles down on pursuit of beauty
If there’s a connective thread in the program that revered tenor Andrea Bocelli will deliver in his message of joy and spiritual reflection at the Toyota Center on Thursday night, it’s a pretty simple one.
“The common denominator is always the pursuit of beauty,” he said viaemail.
Led by longtime collaborator and conductor Eugene Kohn, the performance will feature soprano Larisa Martínez, pop star Pia Toscano, violinist Caroline Campbell, dancers Brittany O’Connor and Jordi Caballero, and special guest Ana María Martínez, a distinguished alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Born in Puerto Rico, the latter — a Grammy Award-winning soprano — recently assumed two new local roles, serving as artist-in-residence at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and as HGO’s first artistic adviser.
The evening will begin with famous arias and duets from celebrated operas by Giuseppe Verdi, Georges Bizet, Umberto Giordano, Giacomo Puccini and Amilcare Ponchielli. According to Bocelli, audience members can expect to hear “Di quella pira” from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” the “Improvviso” from Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” and “Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia” from Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” among others.
Yet, there are other considerations beyond sheer beauty, from what best suits his vocal range to the time of year in which the concert takes place.
In the second half of the program, Bocelli will transition into singing popular love songs and beloved crossover hits, including a few from his 16th studio album, “Sì.” Released in 2018, the recording, which is his first of all-new material in 14 years and was produced by Bob Ezrin (known for his work with everyone from U2 to Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio),
showcases several collaborations, one being an emotional duet with his younger son, Matteo.
“It was crucial to find songs that I was firmly convinced by due to their artistic qualities and their message,” he said. “I wanted to make an album that resembled me in its entirety, expressing my sensitivity and communicating the values I believe in.”
The personal connection and purpose that the opera singer nurtures in his work reflects his belief that artists should never forget their responsibility within society. There is no surefire recipe when it comes to the qualifications of a perfect song, he explained, but once again, its inclination toward beauty reigns supreme. Music should move people, touch their souls and bring lightness into their lives.
“A song is beautiful if it is complete, if the text marries with the melody, if the harmony is new, intriguing,” he said. “For me, it is important that a song be able to offer a moment of serenity and optimism and convey positive values.”
A native of rural Tuscany, Bocelli, who was visually impaired at birth and lost his sight at age 12, initially pursued a profession in law, earning his degree from the University of Pisa. After a brief time in the field, however, he decided to devote himself to singing. Now, in his nearly 30-year music career, he has sold over 80 million records, embarked on countless worldwide tours and achieved unprecedented international crossover success.
With an awe-inspiring voice that Celine Dion famously likened to the singing voice of God, he has performed in the home of the Rockets alongside the city’s acclaimed symphony several times, most recently on a winter tour in 2016.
“The Houston Symphony has a prestigious past and a present that lives up to the expectations of its reputation,” he said. “I can never forget the warmth of the people of Texas and the wave of affection that has washed over me every time I have taken to the stage, which I have tried to give back by giving my all, every time.”
“I pray that the good Lord continues to give us all the strength to say ‘Sì’ to life every day.”