Andrea Bocelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrea Bocelli OMRI OMDSM
Bocelli in 2023
Background information
Born	(1958-09-22) 22 September 1958 (age 66) Lajatico, Italy
Genres	Opera operatic pop Latin pop classical traditional pop pop
Occupation(s)	Singer (tenor)
Years active	1992−present
Labels	Polydor Decca Universal
Signature

Andrea Bocelli is a famous Italian singer, known for his powerful tenor voice. He became well-known in 1994 after winning a special section of the Sanremo Music Festival. He performed the song "Il mare calmo della sera" at the festival.

Since 1994, Bocelli has released many albums. These include 15 solo studio albums with both pop and classical music. He has also released three greatest hits albums and recorded nine complete operas. He has sold over 90 million records around the world. He is famous for mixing classical music with pop, making classical music popular on international charts. His album Romanza is one of the best-selling albums ever. His album Sacred Arias is the top-selling classical album by any solo artist in history.

His Christmas album, My Christmas, was the best-selling holiday album of 2009. It is also one of the best-selling holiday albums in the United States. In 2019, his album Sì reached number one in both the UK and US charts. This was his first album to hit number one in both countries. His song "Con te partirò", a duet with Sarah Brightman, is one of the best-selling singles of all time.

In 1998, People magazine named Bocelli one of the 50 Most Beautiful People. He sang "The Prayer" with Celine Dion for the movie Quest for Camelot. This song won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 1999, he was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. He even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records because his album Sacred Arias held the top three spots on the US Classical Albums charts at the same time.

Andrea Bocelli has been blind since he was 12 years old, after a football accident. He received a special honor from Italy in 2006. On March 2, 2010, he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in live theater. In 2022, he received a gold medal for Merit in Serbia. Famous singer Celine Dion once said that if God had a singing voice, it would sound like Andrea Bocelli. Record producer David Foster has also called Bocelli's voice the most beautiful in the world.

Early Life and Music Journey

Andrea Bocelli was born on September 22, 1958. He had vision problems from birth due to a condition called congenital glaucoma. He grew up on his family's farm in Tuscany, Italy.

From a young age, Andrea loved music. His mother said music was the only thing that made him feel better. He started piano lessons at age 6. Later, he learned to play many other instruments like the flute, saxophone, and guitar. He became interested in becoming a tenor after hearing recordings of Franco Corelli. By age 7, he could recognize and try to sing like famous singers.

At age 12, Andrea lost his sight completely after being hit in the eye with a football. Doctors tried their best to help, but they could not save his vision.

Andrea also sang a lot as a child. He gave his first concert in a small village. At age 14, he won his first singing competition with the song "'O sole mio". After finishing high school in 1980, he studied law at the University of Pisa. To earn money, he sang in piano bars at night. This is where he met his first wife, Enrica, in 1987. He finished law school and worked as a lawyer for one year.

Rising to Fame

Early Career and Sanremo Success (1992–1994)

In 1992, rock star Zucchero was looking for tenors to record a demo of his song "Miserere" for Luciano Pavarotti. Pavarotti heard Bocelli's voice on the tape and told Zucchero to use Bocelli instead. Zucchero and Bocelli recorded the song together, and it became a hit in Europe. Bocelli also joined Zucchero on his 1993 European tour, singing "Miserere" and solo songs like "Nessun dorma".

In 1994, Bocelli entered the Sanremo Music Festival. He won the newcomers' section with a record score. After this win, he released his first album, Il mare calmo della sera, which quickly became very popular in Italy. In September 1994, he sang at Pavarotti's charity concert, Pavarotti International. He also made his opera debut as Macduff in Verdi's Macbeth.

International Breakthrough (1995–1997)

Bocelli returned to the Sanremo Festival in 1995 with "Con te partirò". This song was on his second album, Bocelli, released in November 1995. "Con te partirò" became the best-selling single ever in Belgium.

In 1996, he recorded "Time to Say Goodbye" as a duet with English soprano Sarah Brightman. They sang it for German boxer Henry Maske's farewell match. This song became a huge hit in Germany, selling millions of copies. He also recorded "Vivo por ella" with Marta Sánchez for his 1997 album, Romanza. This album helped him become even more famous worldwide.

In 1997, he performed many concerts in Germany. He also recorded a concert in Pisa, Italy, called A Night in Tuscany, which was shown on PBS in the United States. This was his first time performing for American audiences.

Global Recognition

Opera Debuts and Major Albums (1998–1999)

In 1998, Bocelli took on a main role in an opera for the first time, playing Rodolfo in La bohème. His fifth album, Aria: The Opera Album, was released in March.

On April 19, Bocelli performed his first concert in the United States. He also met with then-President Bill Clinton at the White House. He won two World Music Awards in Monte Carlo. People magazine also named him one of the 50 Most Beautiful People.

He toured North and South America. In September, he won another award for Aria: The Opera Album. He sang "The Prayer" with Céline Dion on her TV special. This song won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1999. They also performed it at the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards.

Bocelli's album Sacred Arias, which features religious music, was released in November 1999. It quickly became number one on the US Classical Billboard charts. This made him the first singer to hold the top three spots on that chart at the same time. He also released his autobiography, La musica del silenzio, which was later made into a movie.

New Millennium and Continued Success (2000–2005)

In 2000, Bocelli's "World Tour 2000" began. His Sacred Arias album was named album of the year by Classic FM radio in the UK. He performed at the Statue of Liberty in New York City for a PBS special, dedicating it to his father who had recently passed away. His album Verdi was released in September.

In 2001, Bocelli continued to perform in operas and concerts around the world. He released his album Cieli di Toscana and was recognized for selling over 40 million albums. He sang at a memorial concert for the victims of the September 11 attacks in New York City.

In 2002, he won more World Music Awards and a Classical BRIT Award for his "Outstanding Contribution to Music". He released his album Sentimento, which sold over two million copies quickly. He also toured extensively in Europe and North America.

In 2003, he won two more Classical BRIT Awards for Sentimento. He performed at charity concerts and continued his tour. In 2004, he toured Asia and performed at the Circo Massimo in Rome for a project by Quincy Jones. His album Andrea was released. He also performed in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2005, Bocelli continued touring and even appeared on Sesame Street. He performed at the Live 8 event in Paris. His concert in Nevada was recorded for PBS and released as the Under the Desert Sky DVD.

Recent Achievements (2006–Present)

Bocelli rehearsing for his Under the Desert Sky concert in Lake Las Vegas, 2006

In 2006, Bocelli sang at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He was honored by the Italian government. He also appeared on American Idol as a guest coach. He sang "Ama, credi e vai" with Gianna Nannini at the opening of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Berlin.

In 2007, he performed at the Concert for Diana in London. He also held a concert in his hometown of Lajatico at the Teatro del Silenzio, which was later released as Vivere Live in Tuscany. His album Vivere sold over 3 million copies.

Bocelli with his then fiancée Veronica Berti in Tokyo, Japan, during his 2008 Asian Tour

In 2008, Bocelli won more awards and toured in Asia. He played the role of Don José in Georges Bizet's opera Carmen in Rome. He also held a concert in his hometown, Lajatico, as a tribute to Italian cinema. His album Incanto was released.

In 2009, Bocelli sang at the opening ceremony of the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final. His first holiday album, My Christmas, was released and became the best-selling holiday album of the year. He performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and on many TV shows.

Bocelli receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2010

On March 2, 2010, Andrea Bocelli received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He toured Scandinavia and Asia. He sang at the opening ceremony of the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. He also performed at the "Celebrate Africa: The Grand Finale" Concert in South Africa to mark the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In 2011, Bocelli performed a recital at the Metropolitan Opera house. He gave concerts in Israel and Sicily, with proceeds going to charity. On September 15, he gave a free concert on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City, which was broadcast on TV.

In 2012, Bocelli played Romeo in the opera Roméo et Juliette. He also performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Albert Hall. His album Passione, featuring duets with Jennifer Lopez and Nelly Furtado, was released in 2013.

Bocelli and his son Matteo performing in New York at the presentation of the album Sì in 2018

In 2015, Bocelli released Cinema, an album of classic film songs. It included duets with Ariana Grande and Nicole Scherzinger. In 2017, he collaborated with Ed Sheeran on "Perfect Symphony". In 2018, he released "Fall On Me" with his son Matteo. Both songs are on his album Sì.

Andrea Bocelli concert in Gibraltar, September 2019

On April 12, 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Bocelli performed a special Easter Sunday concert from an empty Milan Cathedral. This performance, called "Music For Hope", was streamed live on YouTube and watched by millions.

In November 2020, Bocelli released the album Believe, which included songs related to the pandemic. He sang "Nessun Dorma" at the opening ceremony of the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship in 2021 and at the Platinum Party at the Palace for Elizabeth II's Jubilee in 2022.

In 2022, he released A Family Christmas with his son Matteo and daughter Virginia. In 2023, he performed at the Coronation Concert for Charles III. In 2024, he performed with his son Matteo at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile and at the Academy Awards.

In July 2024, Bocelli held special concerts called Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration at the Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico. These concerts celebrated his 30-year career and featured many famous guest performers.

Andrea Bocelli's Voice

Andrea Bocelli is a very popular singer with many fans around the world. Other famous artists and producers have praised his voice. For example, Celine Dion and David Foster have described his voice as incredibly beautiful. Jazz singer Al Jarreau also called him "the most beautiful voice in the world." Many fans, including celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, have been deeply moved by his singing.

However, some classical music critics have different opinions about his singing style, especially when he performs opera. They sometimes point out that his voice might not be as strong or as well-controlled as other opera singers in certain situations. Despite these different views, Bocelli continues to be loved by millions of people globally for his unique sound and emotional performances.

Awards and Honors

Andrea Bocelli has received many awards and honors throughout his career.

• He was made a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006.
• He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
• He won the Newcomers section of the Sanremo Music Festival in 1994.
• He has won multiple ECHO music awards and Classical BRIT Awards for his best-selling albums.
• He has also received several World Music Awards as the "Best Italian Singer" and "World's Best-selling Classical Artist".
• In 2014, he received the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal Life

Bocelli with his wife Veronica Berti in 2023

Andrea Bocelli met his first wife, Enrica Cenzatti, when he was singing in piano bars. They married in 1992 and had two sons, Amos (born 1995) and Matteo (born 1997). They separated in 2002.

In 2000, Andrea's father passed away. Andrea still performed for Pope John Paul II as planned, then returned home for the funeral. He dedicated a song to his father at a concert later that year.

Andrea lives with his second wife and manager, Veronica Berti. They met in 2002 and married in 2014. They have a daughter named Virginia, born in 2012. The family lives in Forte dei Marmi, Italy. Andrea's first wife and sons live nearby.

Andrea enjoys horseback riding. A section of the beach in Jesolo, Italy, was named after him in 2003. He is also a big fan of the Italian football club Inter Milan. In 2022 and 2023, Andrea performed with his children, Matteo and Virginia, on TV shows.

Teatro del Silenzio

In 2006, Andrea Bocelli helped create an outdoor theater in his hometown of Lajatico, called the "Teatro del Silenzio" (Theater of Silence). He is the honorary president of this theater. He usually performs there only once a year in July. For the rest of the year, the theater is quiet. Many famous guest performers have joined him there, including Plácido Domingo and Sarah Brightman.

Music Albums

Studio Albums

• Il mare calmo della sera (1994)
• Bocelli (1995)
• Viaggio Italiano (1996/1997)
• Aria: The Opera Album (1998)
• Sogno (1999)
• Sacred Arias (1999)
• Verdi (2000)
• Cieli di Toscana (2001)
• Sentimento (2002)
• Andrea (2004)
• Amore (2006)
• Incanto (2008)
• My Christmas (2009)
• Passione (2013)
• Cinema (2015)
• Sì (2018)
• Believe (2020)
• Duets (2024)

Collaborative Albums

• A Hymn for the World (1997)
• A Hymn for the World 2: Voices from Heaven (1998)
• Verdi's Requiem (2000)
• Carmen: Duets & Arias (2010)
• A Family Christmas (2022) with Matteo Bocelli and Virginia Bocelli

Film and TV Appearances

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Andrea Bocelli para niños