Current:Home > MyAndrea Bocelli on working with Russell Crowe, meeting the Kardashians and new concert film -ValueCore
Andrea Bocelli on working with Russell Crowe, meeting the Kardashians and new concert film
View
Date:2025-04-22 05:10:38
Pop quiz: What do Ed Sheeran, Russell Crowe, the Kardashians, Sofia Vergara, Johnny Depp and Will Smith have in common?
All of the aforementioned celebrities, and many more public figures, appear in a new concert film celebrating Andrea Bocelli's 30th anniversary in music. The three-day concert took place in July and was attended by over 30,000 people at an outdoor amphitheater in Tuscany. Bocelli teamed with director Sam Wrench, who directed Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" movie, for his film. "Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration" receives a theatrical release this weekend.
The tenor has three children, all of whom appear in the film. So of course he's aware of the global phenomenon that Swift and her "Eras Tour" became.
"Virginia and Matteo went to Taylor Swift's concert in Milan," Bocelli, 66, reveals to USA TODAY before adding with a laugh, "and they told me every detail, of course."
Both Virginia, 12, and Matteo, 27, accompanied their father to the Academy Awards earlier this year. Bocelli kicked off a year-long celebration of his anniversary in music with a performance of "Time to Say Goodbye" alongside his son during the Oscars' In Memoriam segment. For the performance, Bocelli reimagined the song with Matteo and two-time Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
For "Andrea Bocelli 30," the singer shared the stage with two Oscar-winning actors in Crowe and Smith. The "Gladiator" actor performed "Take This Waltz" with the tenor. Smith took the stage with a spoken-word rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone." Bocelli met both for the first time during the concert.
"Beautiful," Bocelli recalls of the performance with Crowe, "because he was very excited. Me too." And the tenor believes the audience in Tuscany also felt that same emotion.
Kim and Khloé Kardashian also appear in the film, receiving flowers from Bocelli at the stage. Then in a scene taped away from the amphitheater, the sisters reflect on Bocelli's accomplishments. A common theme throughout the piece is the idea that the tenor's career is defined not just by his nearly 90 million albums sold, but the way in which he's represented both Italy and classical music throughout his three-decades in the public spotlight.
"You shouldn't take anything for granted," Bocelli says of the compliments, before using an Italian expression with the help of a translator. "The reality of my life has superseded, has gone beyond every expectation of life."
Bocelli, who became completely blind at 12, was encouraged by his father to pursue music in the United States. Now in "Andrea Bocelli 30," he passes down that gift to his three children. In one scene his son Amos, 29, chats with Queen's Brian May. Amos studied piano but is now pursuing a career in spacial engineering. He and the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer were able to strike common ground: in addition to his music, May is an astrophysicist.
May also joined Bocelli on stage, performing Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever." Bocelli is certainly not focused on the end: he just released a "Duets" album that featured both previously recorded songs and new collaborations. Bocelli will also play 10 shows across the U.S. this December, with additional dates across the country announced for February and June of next year.
But when asked about his music living on forever, he offers a succinct observation.
"I try to inspire peace and serenity. This is my goal."
veryGood! (7846)
Related
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- U.S. Starts Process to Open Arctic to Offshore Drilling, Despite Federal Lawsuit
- More than half of employees are disengaged, or quiet quitting their jobs
- What's the #1 thing to change to be happier? A top happiness researcher weighs in
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- How are Trump's federal charges different from the New York indictment? Legal experts explain the distinctions
- Seattle's schools are suing tech giants for harming young people's mental health
- In memoriam: Female trailblazers who leapt over barriers to fight for their sisters
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Instant Brands — maker of the Instant Pot — files for bankruptcy
Ranking
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Green Groups Working Hard to Elect Democrats, One Voter at a Time
- Italy’s Green Giant Enel to Tap Turkey’s Geothermal Reserves
- Tom Steyer on Climate Change: Where the Candidate Stands
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Pete Buttigieg on Climate Change: Where the Candidate Stands
- Sitting all day can be deadly. 5-minute walks can offset harms
- Trump ready to tell his side of story as he's arraigned in documents case, says spokesperson Alina Habba
Recommendation
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
World Health Leaders: Climate Change Is Putting Lives, Health Systems at Risk
Amy Klobuchar on Climate Change: Where the Candidate Stands
Qantas on Brink of £200m Biojet Fuel Joint Venture
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
Green Groups Working Hard to Elect Democrats, One Voter at a Time
Mayor Eric Adams signs executive order protecting gender-affirming care in New York City
Here are 9 Obama Environmental Regulations in Trump’s Crosshairs