www.bocelli.de - Live

August 14, 2005

concert in TAORMINA, Sicily, Italy - Teatro Antico

DUETTI D'AMORE

with the sopranos:
Raffaella Angeletti, Annamaria dell'Oste, Patrizia Orciani, Desirée Rancatore

The Teatro Antico was the perfect backdrop for a most beautiful concert! How fitting it be called Duetti d'Amore. From the moment we walked into the theater, the night was filled with love. All the ladies in the audience were given a long stem rose complete with a card and bow with Andrea's name on it along with a gift bag.

When Andrea said in one interview that music must give you "butterflies in the stomach" he knew what he was talking about. The Duetti d'Amore did just that for me! From the moment the concert started off stage with Patrizia Orciani singing the famous Mario, Mario, Mario, and Andrea following with Son qui as they walked out on stage together, the butterflies started. I don't think they stopped till the very end! Each soprano's voice brought out a different sound but each had a uniqueness all it's own. Each one blended very well with Andrea's. Being surrounded by four different women sure had a reaction on the Tenor. He was very active with each one but the heart stopper was at the end of Suzel buon di from L'Amico Fritz when Andrea led Desiree Rancatore in a waltz across the stage. The audience went wild with cheers! Andrea was very theatrical with each woman. He has learned to look each woman in the face as he sang, with his own eyes open, sparkling much of the time. He made a comment later that dealing with one woman is hard and here he is with four!

The program format went well with the orchestra starting out with La forza del destino followed by a duet, a solo by Anna Maria Dell' Oste another duet, another orchestral piece, Intermezzo, two more duets and then sad to say the first half was over. Of course, Steven came out with The William Tell Overture. It always gets such applause. Desiree did Glitter and Be Gay from Candide. It was fun to hear a song in English. She enjoyed acting the part as well as she was very expressive. The only song that Andrea did solo was Araujuez. The crowd was hoping for Nessun Dorma but Andrea wasn't taking requests!

One solo aria for Raffaella got cut but not sure why. Maybe length of time as the concert went well after midnight. It was a fantastic evening and the first time I attended a concert that wasn't ended with Con Te Partiro. Andrea was adamant that no one was miked for the concert. His voice carried well in the theater but a few said he was hard to hear when the orchestra was exceptionally loud. Where we sat he sounded wonderful. The concert was sold out and a great success. The end to the perfect evening was when the four ladies came out and joined Andrea as they all waved goodbye. It truly was a magical evening. One I will never forget!

rehearsals with

Paola Sanguinetti and Marchello Rota