Current:Home > NewsAndrea Bocelli on working with Russell Crowe, meeting the Kardashians and new concert film -Summit Capital Strategies
Andrea Bocelli on working with Russell Crowe, meeting the Kardashians and new concert film
View
Date:2025-04-14 14:37:00
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! (74)
Related
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- NTSB head warns of risks posed by heavy electric vehicles colliding with lighter cars
- How Buying A Home Became A Key Way To Build Wealth In America
- How the Paycheck Protection Program went from good intentions to a huge free-for-all
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Tesla's stock lost over $700 billion in value. Elon Musk's Twitter deal didn't help
- How Tom Holland Really Feels About His Iconic Umbrella Performance 6 Years Later
- Indiana Bill Would Make it Harder to Close Coal Plants
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Transcript: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Face the Nation, July 9, 2023
Ranking
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Indiana Bill Would Make it Harder to Close Coal Plants
- Utilities Have Big Plans to Cut Emissions, But They’re Struggling to Shed Fossil Fuels
- Man found dead in Minnesota freezer was hiding from police, investigators say
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- 3 reasons why Seattle schools are suing Big Tech over a youth mental health crisis
- Intense cold strained, but didn't break, the U.S. electric grid. That was lucky
- Sen. Schumer asks FDA to look into PRIME, Logan Paul's high-caffeine energy drink
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Activists Call for Delay to UN Climate Summit, Blaming UK for Vaccine Delays
This Waterproof Phone Case Is Compatible With Any Phone and It Has 60,100+ 5-Star Reviews
Sarah Silverman sues OpenAI and Meta over copied memoir The Bedwetter
Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
Sen. Schumer asks FDA to look into PRIME, Logan Paul's high-caffeine energy drink
Billions in NIH grants could be jeopardized by appointments snafu, Republicans say
Unsafe streets: The dangers facing pedestrians