- Since becoming a
Bocelli fan and getting internet service (thus knowing
where he will be performing ALL the time!), I have
been able to see him live at least once a year. I
always wonder what a new year will hold, where the
travels will take me and when. We were given a nice
headstart this year when we learned of the June tour
several months in advance. June? Considering my last
concert was in December, I liked the idea of warm
weather travel. Count me in! Denver was my choice city
this time. I'd never been there before and it was the
closest one to Chicago not on either coast. Truth to
tell, it was the ONLY one not on either coast. I
didn't want to go far. I put out the call, "anyone
for Denver?", and Gloria responded. Yay! We rode
the rails from Chicago and arrived out west the day
before THE BIG NIGHT.
- Our hotel was across
the street from the Pepsi Center. You've GOT to love
any location that eliminates all worries of the
dreaded traffic jams! The Springhill Suites hotel was
worthy of the love and not just for the location. We
learned from our shuttle driver their one year
anniversary will be in August. It's very new looking
still and the staff is first rate!
- When Gloria and I were
all ready to go and began walking down the hall to
leave for THE BIG NIGHT, she mentioned having the
familiar pre-concert butterflies feeling. Me too!
Although I've attended concerts in many cities for
many years, each night with Andrea is brand new! This
was definitely true at the Pepsi Center.
- A vendor was selling
programs outside the arena. I bought one. As he said,
"you won't have to wait in those long lines
inside!". Another perk to getting it then was it
gave me something to look at while we waited for the
doors to open. The by-now familiar "Passione"
cover shot was pictured on the front of the program.
In the lower right hand corner were the words,
"Passion for Life US TOUR". I thought that
was really neat. We fans all know about Andrea's
"Passion for Life". I like that he's putting
it out there in print for the world to see! This being
the first concert of the US tour, I was lucky to not
have seen any information about what the program would
hold. When I looked at the song list, I was pleasantly
surprised. There were five pop songs ON the program.
We have all gotten used to pop songs only being
encores. I like seeing Andrea finally giving his pop
side more exposure in concerts. The pop music IS a big
part of his career. It is nice to see it get a fair
representation. Encores would add three more pop songs
for a total of eight in the show. It was the "poppiest"
:) concert ever, for me.
- The first half of the
concert was where all the classical songs were, of
course. Since I didn't know anything about the content
ahead of time, when I saw "Di Quella Pira"
on the program I was again surprised. Not because we
haven't heard that in concert before, but because it
had been going through my mind all that morning! Not
exactly the standard "can't get it out of my head"
tune, for sure. :)It sounded wonderful, of course! The
Pepsi Center crowd was enthusiastic from the start--a
great kickoff for the tour! The duet from "Romeo
et Juliette" near the end of the first half was
quite a stunner. The "Brindisi" from
"La Traviata" included Andrea dancing with
Maria Aleida and I was happy to see it. Anytime he
wants to take his partner for a twirl, I'll be glad to
watch.
- Many favorite songs
for me were featured in the second half.
"Granada" is my ring tone! The best way to
hear it, of course, is live.
When a piano was brought onstage, I knew that whatever
was going to happen next was going to be very special.
It was a back-to-back of my two favorite songs from
"Passione"--"Era Gia Tutto Previsto"
and "La Vie En Rose". I very nearly cried!
Andrea at the piano changed the arena into a very
intimate space. Amazing!
- When the encores begin,
I am always wondering, "how many will we get?".
The number could never be high enough! We had four in
Denver: "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" as a solo;
"New York, New York" (special for me because
I'M a part of the show then! I see myself on the big
screen backdrop footage during the song and it's a
huge thrill.); "Time To Say Goodbye", which
isn't true anymore and I love that; and a "Nessun
Dorma" finale to bring the house down. It used to
be that "TTSG" was the signal the evening
was over. Now "Nessun Dorma" wraps up the
night. Andrea surely looked like he could have kept on
going for another hour! I know, I know, in my
dreams...and the dreams of every other person in
attendance that night at the Pepsi Center.:)
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