Customer Reviews

Andrea Bocelli - A Night in Tuscany

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I first started listening to Andrea Bocelli about one year ago and have not stopped since. I listen to him every day. I keep his Romaza CD in my car and my 2 1/2 year old son sings along with me to "Con te partiro". As far as the "Night in Tuscany" videotape, It's wonderful because he has some opera and a few other different songs that give you an idea of the diversity of his music. There is something for everyone. He is talented and handsome. I enjoy sitting down at night (after the baby has retired for the evening) and just watching this beautiful video of this amazing man in his hometown of Pisa. The settting is gorgeous (the Tuscany Region of Italy) and I would love to be sitting right there every time I watch. I did get a chance to see him live in concert when he played at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island. What a treat! If you ever get the chance, spring for the tickets... it's well worth every penny. Enjoy!

It is amazing to watch the reactions of those who hear Andrea Bocelli the first time. I have friends who typically listen to country music, and they will immediately ask where they can purchase one of his CD's.

We had friends over to watch the Tuscany DVD and the wife was close to tears and kept saying she had goosebumps from the performance. In today's environment, Andrea provides a beautiful respite from the "noise" on the radio.

Like Sarah Brightman, he is a beautiful addition to our world!

Let me start right off by saying I hate opera. Even translated into English, I hate it. I can take the three tenors only in very small doses.

With that said, I am thrilled to say the Andrea Bocelli is absolutely fantastic! His voice and the music are so achingly beautiful it nearly makes me cry. I never thought I would ever like any opera, but this video has made me a huge Andrea Bocelli fan now!

The duets are no less wonderful than his solo pieces, and the little biographical/interview pieces are utterly charming.

This is a must-have video for any music lover. I would have gladly paid three times the retail price to own this incredible masterpiece.

The greatest proof of a performer's talent (and also a rarity) is that performer's ability to sound better in concert than on a recording. On this video, Andrea Bocelli proves that the beauty of his voice is not the product of a skilled studio engineer but the gift of an amazing singer. From the opening notes of "Nessun Dorma" to the final duet of "Time To Say Goodbye" with Sarah Brightman, the viewer is treated to a balanced combination of concert footage, views of the Tuscan countryside and personal observations by the artist. In particular, the concert renditions of songs from "Romanza" included on this video are superior to the studio recordings, with subtle phrasing and such a lovely tone. The video showcases Bocelli's versatility by including classical, pop and Italian folk songs as well as duets with Nuccia Focile, Zucchero and the above-mentioned Ms. Brightman.

I had the pleasure of attending a concert on Bocelli's 2001 US tour and can vouch for the fact that Andrea Bocelli truly sounds even better "live"-I can think of only a handful of other performers of whom I could say the same. This tape ably recreates that concert experience!

+++++

On this DVD, we are treated to an outdoor concert (given to a packed crowd) featuring the blind tenor from Tuscany (region of central Italy), Andrea Bocelli. The setting for this concert is the historic Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa, Italy. Europe has embraced this man whose remarkable voice and range is capable of singing great operatic arias and classic popular songs.

On this DVD, are arias and popular songs that are sung primarily in Italian. There are also interspersed vignettes involving the man himself. We are also treated to gorgeous travel photography of Tuscany. All in all, we learn about the man behind the performer.

He has four guests featured in this concert:

(i) Soprano Nuccia Focile
(ii) Soprano Sarah Brightman
(iii) Italian pop star Zucchero
(iv) Italian pop singer Martina Sanchez

The music and vignettes included are as follows (asterisks indicate my personal favorites):

(1) Nessun Dorma (Puccini -Turandot)
(2) La Donna e Mobile (Verdi - L'Arlesiana)*
(3) Lamento di Federico (Celia - Tosca)
(4) E Lucean le Stelle (Puccini - Tosca)
(5) Vignette: Interview with Andrea
(6) O Soave Fanciulla (Puccini - La Boheme), duet with Focile*
(7) Brindisi (Verdi - La Traviata), duet again with Focile*
(8) Vignette: Andrea and his family
(9) Tona a Surriento
(10) Santa Lucia Luntana*
(11) O Sole Mio (Di Capua/Capurro)
(12) Vignette: Andrea in the studio
(13) Music video: Vivo Por Ella, duet with Sanchez*
(14) Con Te Partiro
(15) Romanza
(16) E Chiove
(17) Voglio Restare Cosi
(18) Caruso
(19) II Mare Calmo Della Sera (in playback)
(20) Miserere, duet with Zucchero
(21) Time to Say Goodbye, duet with Brightman*

In conclusion, the combination of music, vignettes, and sites make this an unforgettable DVD!!

(1997; 1 1/2 hr; 24 scenes)

+++++

I believe your comments are an insult to everyones' intelligence and opinions who wrote reviews on this video. Andrea Bocelli has a wonderful and inspirational voice and I can't imagine how anyone can use the word 'terrible' in the same sentence with his name. The combination of beautiful music and scenery made this video excellent. As someone with 15 years of musical background I think I have a fairly educated opinion. Whether you classify him as opera or not is beside the point, he is adored by millions around the world. Music, like art, cannot be judged by measuring against any standard. His voice, as does Sara Brightman's, transcends and inspires, truly a gift from God. That said, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, but that doesn't mean it should be expressed.

As a true Andrea Bocelli fan, I want to say that I'm so sick of the people who trash him and think he doesn't deserve a place in the music world. Okay, so you have the right to your own opinion, fine. In opera I have to say I've heard many opera singers before Bocelli (I was only 15 when I bought his "Romanza" CD in 1998), such as Callas, Tucker, the Three Tenors, et al, and every single one of them put on a show. It's just that I have the most feeling for Andrea, because he touched me practically more than those previously mentioned opera singers may have (no offense to them, though). During the first part of this lavishly set 1997 concert, he gives a kick-a** rendition of "Nessun Dorma" for starters and moves into very well the best version of "La Donna è Mobile" I've heard; it makes the "new" version on "Verdi" sound flat (sorry about that).

Afterward, there's a music video with Martha Sánchez, namely "Vivo Por Ella," and then the second half of the concert, which is of course definitely MUCH BETTER than the first. A course of selections from the best-selling "Romanza" CD do him justice like never before. Ditto the breathtaking visions of the land that is his beloved Tuscany and the Piazza dei Cavalieri, where the concert was videotaped in September 1997. Those factors (and Bocelli himself) are worth the whole thing. Similarly, the "Romanza" CD in my book is worth playing over and over again and if you're a true fan you won't have gotten enough of it at all. My favorite part of this concert would have to be the event where that so-called "goddess" among sopranos, Sarah Brightman, comes out to sing the one song that almost everyone knows: "Time To Say Goodbye...."

Andrea's on a roll with this concert overall because he's got plenty to look forward to even though it's been a while since this DVD was released. I'll be watching for his next American tour (and future solo albums as well!).

Ana, who'll likely never find another one like Bocelli

Personally I like opera in general, but I also like this DVD. So first, to somebody who always say sth like: "oh he sucks, his voice is not even close to operatic, those who like him must have ear problem, come on...compare with real tenors like pavarotti this guy is only like a college level vocalist, since I am a vocal student myself I know there are so many vocalists who sings better him."
Oh well...I am also into vocal stuff, though I am not up to a "vocalist" yet at least I know the basics of vocal singing. I also went to vocal class audition in my university and realize that "vocalist world" is totally different from "normal ppl world", there are so many good singers out there, I know this is the truth. Vocally, if really have to compare, I know real operatic tenors like domingo, alfredo kraus, and bocelli's vocal teacher franco corelli (if I did not remember it wrong)have much better voice than bocelli, the difference is like a college level vocalist comparing with world class vocalist. But come on....andrea bocelli's stuff is NOT opera stuff, where operatic tenors are doing opera stuff, so there is no point and meaningless to compare them isn't it? And yes, maybe vocally college level students hv the same technique or better technique than him, but about inspiration, spirit, breath-taking "level"....I dont think a naive college level students cant be compared with a guy whose destiny is like either "tragedy or legend" (tragedy because he is blind, legend because he wins in his destiny). He really uses his heart to go over his music, u can feel his great passion and deep inside his heart throughout every note he sings, I think in this side even pavarotti is not as good as him in my opinion, and in fact pavarotti gave bocelli very positive comment about his singing. (I guess it is because of the reason that I said, bocelli's passion come out from his voice really take ur breath away and u cant resist, trust me. and u know, MUSIC is a gift given by nature, so hv a good inspiration and good use of the ability of oneself's voice is MUCH more important than simply having a good voice in singing, mastero pavarotti must hv realized this~ so again to somebody said sth I mentioned: go home and THINK once more about what the word MUSIC mean, I guess u guys must got blind of "caring singing technique" too much and forgot the origin of MUSIC.)
About the DVD, I also like his trial of singing opera songs, though not sound as good as world class tenors, he gave me a totally different feeling from the operatic tenors, which also sounds passionate and great. So I like both operatic tenors and him, especially when he sings pop music, I bet the operatic tenors cant sound as good as him, or maybe just sound the same, since real operatic voice mostly does not "fully" suit pop music. I also listened several other CD's from bocelli, but I feel like this is the best one since they dun even hv one song from bocelli that it is "not my cup of tea"~ I enjoy every single songs in this CD, my favorites are:
Opera works, Arias, and folk songs:
1. La Donna e Mobile -- One of my favorite aria I know, bocelli did a pretty good job in it, nice try. (Enrico Caruso's version is much better, but bocelli also good)
2. E Lucevan le Stelle -- WOW!!! Aria from Tosca, really beautiful melody and lyrics. Bocelli touches my heart when he sings this song, it really makes me imagine that I am in the last scene of "Tosca", so TOUCHING. (In my point of view, operatic tenor versions hv better vocal technique but just sound the same to me, so far I like either bocelli's version or Jose Carreras' version the best. Mario Frangoulis' remix version "sometimes I dream" also superb)
3. Brindisi -- Aria from "La Traviata". For this song I think bocelli did pretty good, fair range. I like Nuccia Focile's voice in this song!!! Her voice just blows me away! (But for real this opera mainly focus on the soprano)
4. Torna A Surriento -- Nice job, beautiful melody. It gave me the feeling of "bringing me to Tuscany". (I heard Luciano Pavarotti's version too, but I feel like his version does not hv that deep inspiration as Bocelli.)
5. O Sole Mio -- Very famous Italian folk song huh~ Again Bocelli succeeded "Bring me to Tuscany". (Other than this version I HIGHLY recommend Mario Lanza's version!!! It has even stronger feeling of "Bringing the audience to Italy")

Pop Music:
6. Vivo Por Ella -- Excellent job. The duet is really superb. I like Bocelli's voice in high notes dueting with Maria Sanchez.
7. Con Te Partiro -- Bocelli did this song with Sarah Brightman before, and it is also in this DVD, but I like the solo version better. Bocelli sounds even more passionate and close to heart in solo.
8. Romanza -- Beautiful song, very nicely done, and give me a heartwarming feeling.
9. Caruso -- WOW!!! This is one of my favorite song Ive ever heard. The lyrics are SO sincere that it would move u to tears, and very beautiful melody that suits the lyrics mood really well. I've heard 15 versions of this song, I think Bocelli is the most passionate version Ive heard, Pavarotti's version sounds the best, and original Lucio Dalla's version sounds closest to the world of lyrics itself.
10. Il Mare Calmo Della Sera -- A MUST listen!!! U can feel the sea waves when u listen this song. At first Bocelli uses a more "pop" and "not clear enough" voice start up, then in the chorus.....DAMN!!! His voice "comes out" fully and it feels like the wave is coming!!! What a NICE contrast!!! It encourages ppl's heart when somebody listens this!!!
Se dentro l'anima
tu fossi musica!!!
11. Miserere -- Another MUST listen!!! This is a very nice duet. Personally I like the design of this song a lot, Zucchero is such a genius in composing. U can tell that Zucchero is the "leading guy" in the song, and Bocelli is "vocalizing in words", but u wont feel like: "oh come on, Bocelli has way better voice than Zucchero, their voice do not match." In fact their voice REALLY match in singing this song, and the lyrics is full of encouragement. This song can be "used for" encourageing ppl!!!
Miserere, Miserere
Miserere, Misero me
Per la, Brinto alla VI~~~~~~~~~~~TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, in opera view for this CD, I wont comment on this because this CD itself is not an opera or operatic singing. In pop music this is more than 10 stars but amazon only hv 5 stars available, so I would give it as 5 stars!!

As a newbie to opera, I can only look at a short history of tenors: pavarotti, domingo, carreras, lima...to compare. While, each of them is unique, I feel andrea bocelli fills a unique niche as crossover talent.

A Night in Tuscany is pure heaven...his sweet lyrical voice is supple enough that you are not bored, yet strong enough to be evocative. I liked his versatility in singing very romantic pop ballads in a different tonal register (unlike other tenors who can only beat a song with wagnerian brash.) And his operatic efforts were not overdone with pretense...a very refreshing interpretation.

As for the video production, overall first rate. I liked the filmic interludes of his family and personal life...a nice break which adds to the casual listening which characterized this album. The co-stars were ok, Sara Brightman was not at her best, and Noccio--an Italian Joe Cocker?

Alas, who am I to criticize good from bad music...my wife enjoyed it--made her feel romantic--and that's worth the $24 and a glass of chablis.

Bravo Bocelli!

TO THE ONES THAT REALLY CARE FOR A CONCERT, AND A GOOD ONE, HERE YOU HAVE THIS UNFORGETABLE CONCERT TRANSMITTED ALL OVER THE WORLD.THAT'S HOW I MET MAESTRO ANDREA BOCELLI.
ALL THE SELECTION OF MUSIC, ANDREA BOCELLI INTERPRETATION OF NESSUM DORMA, AND ANY OF THE MUSIC THAT HE SINGS, IS A CONCERT OF AN ENORMOUS LEVEL TO THE WORLD.
ONE WHO POSSESSES THIS VIDEO OR DVD, CAN UNDERSTAND WHY ANDREA BOCELLI IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER TENOR. BECAUSE HE GIVES HIS SOUL, HIS PERFORMANCE AND HIS ART, TOGETHER WITH A BEAUTIFUL ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY A GREAT MAESTRO, MARCELO ROTA, AND GIVES SOME FEW DETAILS WHO HIS HIM, AND ALL IN ALL, STILL NOWADAYS WE CAN NEVER FORGET THIS CONCERT. HIS FIRST WORLDWIDE, COMPLETE. THE NESSUM DORMA, SUNG BY HIM SURPASSES ONE THAT ANY TENOR ON THE WORLD MIGHT SING. HIS POSTURE, AND THE ALL INTERACTIVE ACTION IN ITALY IS SO BEAUTIFUL, THAT I RECOMMEND TO THE ONES THAT DOES NOT POSSESS THIS PEACE, TO GET IT. THIS IS A CONCERT FOR HISTORY. THANKS MAESTRO ANDREA BOCELLI.