Andrea Bocelli: A Night in Tuscany (1997)

Part concert, part documentary, part travelogue, this video hit duplicates the sleeper success of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's album compilations and underscores his unique crossover appeal. In the U.S., Bocelli's critical response has been confined to fusillades of scorn from classical and opera writers, but the bulletproof superstar is better understood in the context of Europe's more established tradition of pop-classical fusions. Ironically, fans abroad are less prickly than stateside arbiters about the need for a discreet wall between high (classical) art and low (pop) kitsch, which Bocelli cheerfully ignores with his mix of operatic chestnuts, soft pop, and traditional Italian songs.

Indeed, despite interview segments in which he proclaims his love of opera or proudly recalls an apprenticeship to operatic veteran Franco Corelli, Bocelli comes across as more fan than virtuoso. But if his voice can prompt technical cavils from hard-core opera buffs, the blind singer's emotional directness and relative lack of onstage preening explain much of his populist appeal. Featured songs include warhorse arias, leading off with the "Louie, Louie" of tenor showpieces, Turandot's "Nessun Dorma," and duets with gruff Italian pop-rocker Zucchero and sopranos Nuccia Focile and Sarah Brightman (who buddies up for the tear-jerking closer, "Time to Say Goodbye").

Even with the marquee bonus of those guests, however, A Night in Tuscany gets its biggest boost from the seductive Italian countryside, prominently featured in between-song segments, and in the romantic concert setting, Pisa's Piazza dei Cavalieri. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com

Did not come sealed.

Bought this for a gift... seller said it was new. It looked new but was not wrapped up in plastic. Disc looked real but It did not look like I purchased it from a store. Did not hear about the quality of dvd yet.
Assume no news is good news! January 8, 2008

Andrea Bocelli - A Night in Tuscany

Bocelli remains a wonderful singer, this recording proves that time and again. It's fine that Bocelli is not an Opera singer, but rather a singer that sings opera (very nicely.) This wonderful singer has made his place in recorded music history.
Opera lovers and music lovers will agree, he sings very memorable and lovable songs with a magic that is unsurpassed.
Cheers Bocelli! Cheers! November 28, 2007

Exhilarating

This is one of Andrea Bocelli's finest DVD's. It's a wonderful combination of his music, his family, his roots and passions. Another glimpse of an extraordinary man and tenor. February 11, 2007

Perfection

Andrea is a gift to the those of us who dare to dream and be happy when listening to the beautiful melodies he interprets in such a fantastic way, and regardless of the language!
Bravo! March 9, 2006

the best of bocelli's CD

Personally I like opera in general, but I also like this DVD. So first, to somebody who always say sth like: "oh he sucks, his voice is not even close to operatic, those who like him must have ear problem, come on...compare with real tenors like pavarotti this guy is only like a college level vocalist, since I am a vocal student myself I know there are so many vocalists who sings better him."
Oh well...I am also into vocal stuff, though I am not up to a "vocalist" yet at least I know the basics of vocal singing. I also went to vocal class audition in my university and realize that "vocalist world" is totally different from "normal ppl world", there are so many good singers out there, I know this is the truth. Vocally, if really have to compare, I know real operatic tenors like domingo, alfredo kraus, and bocelli's vocal teacher franco corelli (if I did not remember it wrong)have much better voice than bocelli, the difference is like a college level vocalist comparing with world class vocalist. But come on....andrea bocelli's stuff is NOT opera stuff, where operatic tenors are doing opera stuff, so there is no point and meaningless to compare them isn't it? And yes, maybe vocally college level students hv the same technique or better technique than him, but about inspiration, spirit, breath-taking "level"....I dont think a naive college level students cant be compared with a guy whose destiny is like either "tragedy or legend" (tragedy because he is blind, legend because he wins in his destiny). He really uses his heart to go over his music, u can feel his great passion and deep inside his heart throughout every note he sings, I think in this side even pavarotti is not as good as him in my opinion, and in fact pavarotti gave bocelli very positive comment about his singing. (I guess it is because of the reason that I said, bocelli's passion come out from his voice really take ur breath away and u cant resist, trust me. and u know, MUSIC is a gift given by nature, so hv a good inspiration and good use of the ability of oneself's voice is MUCH more important than simply having a good voice in singing, mastero pavarotti must hv realized this~ so again to somebody said sth I mentioned: go home and THINK once more about what the word MUSIC mean, I guess u guys must got blind of "caring singing technique" too much and forgot the origin of MUSIC.)
About the DVD, I also like his trial of singing opera songs, though not sound as good as world class tenors, he gave me a totally different feeling from the operatic tenors, which also sounds passionate and great. So I like both operatic tenors and him, especially when he sings pop music, I bet the operatic tenors cant sound as good as him, or maybe just sound the same, since real operatic voice mostly does not "fully" suit pop music. I also listened several other CD's from bocelli, but I feel like this is the best one since they dun even hv one song from bocelli that it is "not my cup of tea"~ I enjoy every single songs in this CD, my favorites are:
Opera works, Arias, and folk songs:
1. La Donna e Mobile -- One of my favorite aria I know, bocelli did a pretty good job in it, nice try. (Enrico Caruso's version is much better, but bocelli also good)
2. E Lucevan le Stelle -- WOW!!! Aria from Tosca, really beautiful melody and lyrics. Bocelli touches my heart when he sings this song, it really makes me imagine that I am in the last scene of "Tosca", so TOUCHING. (In my point of view, operatic tenor versions hv better vocal technique but just sound the same to me, so far I like either bocelli's version or Jose Carreras' version the best. Mario Frangoulis' remix version "sometimes I dream" also superb)
3. Brindisi -- Aria from "La Traviata". For this song I think bocelli did pretty good, fair range. I like Nuccia Focile's voice in this song!!! Her voice just blows me away! (But for real this opera mainly focus on the soprano)
4. Torna A Surriento -- Nice job, beautiful melody. It gave me the feeling of "bringing me to Tuscany". (I heard Luciano Pavarotti's version too, but I feel like his version does not hv that deep inspiration as Bocelli.)
5. O Sole Mio -- Very famous Italian folk song huh~ Again Bocelli succeeded "Bring me to Tuscany". (Other than this version I HIGHLY recommend Mario Lanza's version!!! It has even stronger feeling of "Bringing the audience to Italy")

Pop Music:
6. Vivo Por Ella -- Excellent job. The duet is really superb. I like Bocelli's voice in high notes dueting with Maria Sanchez.
7. Con Te Partiro -- Bocelli did this song with Sarah Brightman before, and it is also in this DVD, but I like the solo version better. Bocelli sounds even more passionate and close to heart in solo.
8. Romanza -- Beautiful song, very nicely done, and give me a heartwarming feeling.
9. Caruso -- WOW!!! This is one of my favorite song Ive ever heard. The lyrics are SO sincere that it would move u to tears, and very beautiful melody that suits the lyrics mood really well. I've heard 15 versions of this song, I think Bocelli is the most passionate version Ive heard, Pavarotti's version sounds the best, and original Lucio Dalla's version sounds closest to the world of lyrics itself.
10. Il Mare Calmo Della Sera -- A MUST listen!!! U can feel the sea waves when u listen this song. At first Bocelli uses a more "pop" and "not clear enough" voice start up, then in the chorus.....DAMN!!! His voice "comes out" fully and it feels like the wave is coming!!! What a NICE contrast!!! It encourages ppl's heart when somebody listens this!!!
Se dentro l'anima
tu fossi musica!!!
11. Miserere -- Another MUST listen!!! This is a very nice duet. Personally I like the design of this song a lot, Zucchero is such a genius in composing. U can tell that Zucchero is the "leading guy" in the song, and Bocelli is "vocalizing in words", but u wont feel like: "oh come on, Bocelli has way better voice than Zucchero, their voice do not match." In fact their voice REALLY match in singing this song, and the lyrics is full of encouragement. This song can be "used for" encourageing ppl!!!
Miserere, Miserere
Miserere, Misero me
Per la, Brinto alla VI~~~~~~~~~~~TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, in opera view for this CD, I wont comment on this because this CD itself is not an opera or operatic singing. In pop music this is more than 10 stars but amazon only hv 5 stars available, so I would give it as 5 stars!! November 23, 2005

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