I wonder how many people out there
remember the very first time that they heard Andrea's voice and
remember how it touched their hearts and changed their lives forever.
I suspect that there are millions!
For me, it was a rainy, winter Sunday,
about seven years ago. I was in my dining room, sewing a ball
dress for my daughter, and I had the TV on in my lounge, just for
some background noise. I heard this unbelievably beautiful voice
singing and I had to go and see who it belonged to. (It was,
I think, the original BBC programme about Andrea's rise to fame) .
Like William, I had been a passive listener of music all my life, but
no voice had ever spoken to me or touched
my soul as did Andrea's.
From that moment I was under his spell.
It has been a journey, the last seven
years, in which Andrea's music has been of enormous
comfort to me; through kidney failure, dialysis, a transplant and many
other health issues and family problems. I always find great
solace in listening to his voice. Today, I am healthy and happy,
working full time as a special needs teacher and Andrea's music remains
an essential part of my daily life- it calms and relaxes me and
reminds me always that perfection does exist in this
world.
I have been lucky enough to see Andrea in
concert, on both his trips to New Zealand. I remember
leaving the theatre after his first concert, feeling
absolutely stunned and wishing that those moments
could have lasted forever. In
2007 I travelled to Italy to spend time with my daughter who was
studying in Florence, and had hoped to see him in Andrea Chenier in
Sicily, but unfortunately he did not, in the end, perform that
role. I am saving very hard to attend his concert in
Lajatico in 2010!! This will be a dream come true, seeing him perform
in his own country.
How can you thank someone who has
introduced so much pleasure into your life - a love for classical
music, for opera, for other artists (Corelli, Pavarotti, Laura Pausini).
He has also inspired in me a love of travel, of Italy, the desire to
learn the Italian language, and to live a life of courage, gratitude
and thoughtfulness.
A truly inspirational man.
Thankyou.
Wendy King
|