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DVD : Andrea Bocelli - A Night in TuscanyIn association with Amazon.comRating:  - the best of bocelli's CDPersonally 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!! Rating: - The Wonderful Romaza ConcertThe Itallian Singing Sensation Andrea Bocelli returns to his hometown Pisa to Perform Popular Arias and songs from his albums Il Mare Calmo Della Sera and Romanza. This Concert was shown on PBS on a series called In The Spotlight. He performs with an Italian Orchestra conducted by Marcello Rota who conducted his Europe Sentimento Concert and has 3 Special Guests. The Best Part of this Concert is the Duet he sang with The Phantom of the Opera Broadway and London Sarah Brightman which is Time to Say Goodbye. If you get this Concert on DVD you'll love this beautiful Duet. Also this Duet is on Sarah Brightman live at the Royal Albert Hall and Mr. Bocelli himself is on that DVD as a Special Guest. Also the Duet is in Andrea's Statue of Liberty Concert. So enjoy this Wonderful night of Romance in Tuscany with Andrea Bocelli. Rating: - The Blind Tenor from Tuscany Delivers!!+++++ On this DVD, we are treated to an outdoor concert (given to a packed crowd) featuring the blind tenor from Tuscany (region of central Italy), Andrea Bocelli. The setting for this concert is the historic Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa, Italy. Europe has embraced this man whose remarkable voice and range is capable of singing great operatic arias and classic popular songs. On this DVD, are arias and popular songs that are sung primarily in Italian. There are also interspersed vignettes involving the man himself. We are also treated to gorgeous travel photography of Tuscany. All in all, we learn about the man behind the performer. He has four guests featured in this concert: (i) Soprano Nuccia Focile (ii) Soprano Sarah Brightman (iii) Italian pop star Zucchero (iv) Italian pop singer Martina Sanchez The music and vignettes included are as follows (asterisks indicate my personal favorites): (1) Nessun Dorma (Puccini -Turandot) (2) La Donna e Mobile (Verdi - L'Arlesiana)* (3) Lamento di Federico (Celia - Tosca) (4) E Lucean le Stelle (Puccini - Tosca) (5) Vignette: Interview with Andrea (6) O Soave Fanciulla (Puccini - La Boheme), duet with Focile* (7) Brindisi (Verdi - La Traviata), duet again with Focile* (8) Vignette: Andrea and his family (9) Tona a Surriento (10) Santa Lucia Luntana* (11) O Sole Mio (Di Capua/Capurro) (12) Vignette: Andrea in the studio (13) Music video: Vivo Por Ella, duet with Sanchez* (14) Con Te Partiro (15) Romanza (16) E Chiove (17) Voglio Restare Cosi (18) Caruso (19) II Mare Calmo Della Sera (in playback) (20) Miserere, duet with Zucchero (21) Time to Say Goodbye, duet with Brightman* In conclusion, the combination of music, vignettes, and sites make this an unforgettable DVD!! (1997; 1 1/2 hr; 24 scenes) +++++ Rating:  - UnfortunateMr. Bocelli was fine and I especially enjoyed his rendition of Nessum Dorma. I thought the interspaced vinettes are not particularly interesting and detracted somewhat from his performances. Ms. Brightman also seemed to have some slight pitch issues, but these I thought are very minor. The reason why I rated this three stars isn't so much for the performances, which generally are very good. The problem is this dvd only uses Dolby 2.0 and it really does not do any justice to the Mr. Bocelli and his friend's vocal abilities nor the performances of the orchestra... it all sounds a bit flat. I would recommend renting this first. Rating: - Amazingly beautiful!!Let me start right off by saying I hate opera. Even translated into English, I hate it. I can take the three tenors only in very small doses. With that said, I am thrilled to say the Andrea Bocelli is absolutely fantastic! His voice and the music are so achingly beautiful it nearly makes me cry. I never thought I would ever like any opera, but this video has made me a huge Andrea Bocelli fan now! The duets are no less wonderful than his solo pieces, and the little biographical/interview pieces are utterly charming. This is a must-have video for any music lover. I would have gladly paid three times the retail price to own this incredible masterpiece. |
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