Andrea Bocelli’s captivating performance in Venice offers compelling evidence of the city’s unique appeal, potentially supporting any consideration to increase its tourist levy.
On Saturday evening, St. Mark’s Square in Venice was filled with an enthusiastic audience as the Italian tenor took the stage to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his breakthrough album, Romanza (1997). The concert demonstrated why his catalog has surpassed 90 million sales and generated over 16 billion streams.
As the opening chords of the Filarmonia Orchestra resonated through the iconic square, several women in Rococo‑style attire glided among the seated spectators, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a homecoming than a typical tour stop.
A Square, An Orchestra, and a Medley of Classics
The exposed setting of St. Mark’s Square presents challenges — water, wind, and centuries‑old stone can diminish a voice — but the Tuscan Maestro commanded the performance, delivering operatic selections from Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet, among them ‘La donna è mobile’, ‘Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso’, and ‘Au fond du temple Saint’ from The Pearl Fishers.
Bocelli’s tenor blended seamlessly with the brilliant soprano Mariam Battistelli in the Verdi and Puccini pieces. Their performance was complemented by the resonant baritone of Roberto de Candia, who delivered a stirring rendition of Verdi’s ‘Non m’inganno, ella scende’.
Following a concise yet brilliant opening in the first act, Moldovan violinist and composer Rusandra Panfili returned in the second act to captivate the audience with a ‘Cinema Medley’ by Ennio Morricone, followed by a mash‑up of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story hits.
Crossovers and duets
The second act featured a diverse setlist, including ‘Caruso’, ‘Romanza’, and Zucchero’s ‘Il mare calmo della sera’, showcasing Bocelli’s three‑decade legacy as a premier crossover artist.
Special guest Andrea Lykke brought vivacity and power to her renditions of ‘Stand Up’. Her duets with Bocelli on the beloved songs ‘Vivere’, ‘Vivo per lei’, and ‘Canto della terra’ enthralled the crowd, as she matched his lines note for note on these Italian classics.
The spectacular sound appeared crafted to engage both devoted fans gathered in the square and casual tourists nearby. The encore was inevitable: Bocelli performed ‘Con Te Partirò’ beneath the basilica’s floodlights, prompting the audience to rise to their feet and demand more.
‘Nessun Dorma’ concluded the performance, with hundreds of mobile phones lighting the night. At 67, Bocelli no longer seeks high‑note fireworks, yet his emotional depth and vocal virtuosity remain astonishingly impressive.
The concert preceded Bocelli’s announcement of a multi‑year partnership with Philip Morris International, titled ‘Believe. Further.’ While no specifics about a new album, advertising, or charitable initiatives were disclosed, the agreement is expected to launch a transformative project whose details will follow.