Opera star Andrea Bocelli comes to China
( 2003-12-02 13:45) (thatsmagazines.com)
 Opera star Andrea Bocelli has had his share of highs and
lows. Born in 1958 in a farming village in Tuscany, his love of opera was
evident from an early age, "I was one of those children who would always be
asked to sing for my relatives. I donĄät think one really decides to be a singer
¨C other people decide it for you by their reactions."
Sadly, Bocelli was blinded at the age of 12 by a football accident, and as he
grew up his youthful operatic ideals were replaced with law studies, financed by
evening gigs in local piano bars. It wasnĄ¯t until after graduation that he took
up singing lessons with the legendary tenor, Franco Corelli.
BocelliĄ¯s involvement in PavarottiĄ¯s 1992 hit Miserere and FornaciariĄ¯s 1993
world tour swiftly brought him international acclaim. But his vocal range and
appeal were not confined to classical opera. He soon branched into pop music
too, recording duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman and Eros Ramazzotti.
While most of the world canĄ¯t get enough of his long, floating high notes and
lilting melodies, BocelliĄ¯s vocal signature has been criticised for lacking
colour and control in phrasing. According to Steve Metcalf, music critic for the
Hartford Courant, Bocelli is either "one of the great Italian tenors of all time
or an overreaching-prepackaged commodity who has inexplicably captured worldwide
acclaim, mostly undeserved."
If you think anyone in Shanghai will mind what Metcalf says, however, think
again. Shanghai has long fancied famous tenors and will likely pay the high
ticket prices for another soaring Nessun Dorma.
Andrea Bocelli performs on December 3 at the Shanghai Grand Stage. Call 6438
5200 for tickets. Prices range from RMB 300-3,000.
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