Andrea Bocelli: Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Zubin Mehta (Artist), Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist), Zubin Mehta (Artist)

Product Details

• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (September 12, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00004X16D
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,454 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Classical Music Reviews
With this CD devoted solely to operatic arias--by none less than Giuseppe Verdi, the greatest Italian opera composer of all time--pop crossover phenomenon Andrea Bocelli throws his hat into the operatic ring with the big boys. The hat occasionally fits, and occasionally it doesn't. The beauty of the voice is undeniable, as is the relative ease in all registers. But, regardless of what the engineers do, it is clearly a small voice. For "Celeste Aïda"--Radames's great aria from Aïda--Bocelli opens with fine, as-big-as-possible exclamation and sounds confident; the long diminuendo on the aria's final high B-flat is stunning (whether or not the engineers were twiddling with the knobs, we'll never know). The tenor is more at home with Alfredo's Act Two music from La Traviata; he sings with grace and charm, ending the rarely performed cabaletta (a brief and showy piece that usually follows an aria) with one of the longest, most solid high Cs ever recorded. Elsewhere, there are mixed results: "Di' tu se fedele" from Un ballo in maschera is so free of feeling that it seems digitally produced. A big, unnecessary high D at the close of the Duke's cabaletta "Possente amor" from Rigoletto is screamed, and Bocelli sounds at times as if he's about to collapse from exhaustion during a heavy aria from Ernani. But "Ah si, ben mio" from Il Trovatore is beautiful, as is the Luisa Miller aria; Don Carlo also seems to fit Bocelli well. Needless to say, the singer's fans will certainly want to have this--and it might encourage them to try other recordings of music by Verdi. Newcomers and the curious will find plenty to admire, too. The sound itself remains alluring, and Bocelli has taken steps also towards improving his technique. In short, some nice surprises for the opera lover, and many for the Bocelli fan. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Warrior's Determination, September 12, 2000

By	"joyhd" (cyberspace) - See all my reviews

Andrea Bocelli sings out, without accompaniment, the first notes of Radamès' aria, "Celeste Aïda." He sings, "Se quell guerrier io fossi!" "If only that warrior were I!" It is powerful and compelling. Trumpets peal in a royal-sounding tribute, a call to arms. Andrea sings again, "Un esercito di prodi da me guidato, e la vittoria e il plauso." "An army of brave men led by me - victory and applause!" and finally the orchestra joins him. This is no romantic pop singer. I picture a defiant and victorious Radamès lifting his arm over his head, fist clenched, metal cuff flashing. The soft-focus cover of this CD belies the strong warrior. The voice reveals him.

Andrea sings "E per te ho vinto," "I fought, I won for you," and his voice is perfect voice as it drops one full octave on "vinto." Even in the more tender part of the aria, he evidences a determined will. He hits his first wonderful high note during "Ergerti un trono vicino al sol," "A royal throne for you in the sun." He repeats the line, climbing the scale, "Un regal trono vicino al sol." And still higher again, "Un regal trono vicino al sol!" ending in a strong, high B-flat. It's breathtaking!

One critic writing for Amazon.com says, "For `Celeste Aïda'--Radames's great aria from Aida --Bocelli opens with fine, as-big-as-possible exclamation and sounds confident; the long diminuendo on the aria's final high B-flat is stunning (whether or not the engineers were twiddling with the knobs, we'll never know)."

But we do know about Andrea's ability to sing this difficult piece. Andrea sang this over and over in concert this past spring, live, in front of the world's critics. Commenting on Andrea's live performance, James Roos of the Miami Herald (April 3, 2000) said, "Actually, to sing Celesta Aïda the way he did, Bocelli has to possess a sweet, lyric tenor ... plus a ranging top-voice of genuine quality. ...And how many tenors follow Verdi's instructions to sing that climactic B-flat with a true diminuendo -- a fade-out -- as Bocelli did, to his credit?"

Further, we hear from conductor Zubin Mehta. "Andrea's voice is special in many ways," Mehta said. "First of all, he has a complete control from forte to pianissimo on any note. The end of 'Celeste Aida,' he attacks the high B flat full voice and then pulls it down to nothing - hardly anybody can do that... But it's not that we tried it 15 times and he got it once; he can do it every time. He can also, in the middle of a phrase, without breathing, change the color of a note, so it's a conductor's dream to ask and to get it because most people can't do that." (Universal) Mehta also said, "The album of Verdi arias allows the entire world to discover an artist that has the capacity to control every note and to instill emotion in music." (Translated from ANSA, August 31, 2000)

In "Di quella pira" from Il Trovatore, Andrea neatly runs through the sixteenth notes. It is sung with force and determination, not sweetness. Andrea's voice just gallops through its paces like the muscular racehorse, singing "O teco almen corro a morir..." The chorus backs him again and the end is a rousing exchange ending in a powerful ten second high C.

Andrea appreciates the inherent difficulty of the piece. He says, "But there was one [aria] that was a challenge for me from the start. That was 'Di quella pira' from Il Trovatore, an aria that requires 'agilita 'and 'forza' and that I always carefully avoided singing, but which was more or less a must for this album. Consequently, I had to study it, and I worked very hard."

The Boston Globe's Richard Dyer says, "Bocelli's delivery of the sound and intent of his own language is always remarkable... ''Di quella pira'' has a fair amount of punch and panache, and it is very unusual to hear it sung this accurately, and in the original key." (September 8, 2000)

Andrea's affection for this music is evident in every cut. "Verdi's arias ... have intrinsic power and communicate ideas that are eternal. Verdi is much more than a simple romantic. I think his music embraces feelings that go far beyond that." (Universal) "When we speak of Verdi, we speak of a genius that crossed Italian borders in order to conquer the world with the force of emotions. We bring him back to the attention of young people -- medicine in order to hope for a better future for our children." (Translated from ANSA, August 31, 2000)

Andrea's affection for music and recognition of its power underscores his appeal. As he says, "I believe that in a world of confusion, sensationalism and ethical turmoil, classical music can be a pure and wholesome medicine that gives us confidence in a better future for ourselves and for our children." (Universal) His voice communicates all this and more.

Reviewer Edwin Faust explains, "Bocelli pours his heart into his songs in so intense a manner that his music and his personality are fused... when Bocelli sings, all of him sings." (The Press of Atlantic City April 10, 2000)

We fell in love with a romantic pop singer, riding a white horse through the waves. Yet it is a very, very different image we get from this wonderful collection. The Andrea Bocelli I picture is an invincible young king, determined, serving up high note after magnificent high note, rollicking from one octave to another with a warrior's resolve.

The complete articles from which these quotes are taken can be found at the fans' website, bocelli.net.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Andrea Bocelli: Verdi, September 13, 2000

By	Lonnie Barone (Doylestown, PA USA) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed the recording. Andrea works hard, and his beautiful voice is always distinctive. His interpretations of classic Verdi pieces really reveal nothing new, but his voice itself yields a freshness that is often enchanting, always listenable. I love the control and coloring he can exhibit throughout his entire range, which is remarkable. He is reverential to Verdi, never interpolating what the Master didn't request. Mehta's sure hand is evident here; the conductor does not allow liberties but appreciates Andrea's strengths and lets them shine through.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Verdi would be proud, September 27, 2000

By A Customer

This new release of the operatic arias of Verdi performed by Italy's sensational tenor Andrea Bocelli with the Israeli Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta is a wonderful tribute to the composer on the 100th anniversary of his death. Bocelli has worked diligently on strengthening and improving his beautiful tenor voice, and numerous critics have noted and praised the results as evidenced on this newest offering by the popular singer. Such beauty and passion! I expecially liked his "Celeste Aida" and hope to see more staged operas by the man to prove to those few but vocal critics that his triumph has nothing to do with the engineers' playing with knobs in the control room! Fantastic! Verdi would be proud of this tribute by his fellow countryman. I would highly recommend this album!

On the other hand, don't waste your money on buying the best of collection "Per Amore". It is nothing more than a collection of material already released produced by the Japanese. There is not one new selection on the entire cd.