Andrea Bocelli interview: Famed Italian tenor on singing with his children, performing and faith

Just weeks after a heartfelt father-son duet at the Academy Awards, famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will be performing in Pittsburgh.

Bocelli, along with his son Matteo, performed an emotional version of “Time to Say Goodbye” at the Oscars, paying tribute to actors and musicians who died in 2023. That song — or its Italian version, “Con te partirò” — is a strong contender to be played when Bocelli visits PPG Paints Arena on April 4.

His latest release, “Dare to Be,” is a single recorded with his 11-year-old daughter, Virginia, for the movie “Cabrini.” The movie details the life of Sister Frances Xavier Cabrini, a Roman Catholic missionary and strong supporter of Italian immigrants in the United States.

“(Cabrini was) a small, Italian woman who was larger than life owing to her faith and infallible will as a missionary, serving God and helping others on earth,” Bocelli said. “She was able to build homes, schools, hospitals, comforting, educating, healing, evangelizing tens of thousands of Italian emigres in the Americas. I hope that the song that my daughter and I sing can make a small contribution to the film, as it reaffirms in music how we all should dare to do more, confident in our values of what is good and of our faith.”

In an email interview with TribLive — he answered the questions in Italian with a translator sharing them in English — Bocelli touched more on collaborating with his children, what he takes from performing and the importance of his faith:

How does it feel to share the stage and record with your children?

I don’t think there is anything better than making music with one’s children, it is such a privilege. This was — and continues to be — yet another beautiful gift life has given me. It’s hard for me to put in words the magnitude of my joy I feel when I am on stage and at the same time with the family; with my children standing by my side in front of a microphone and our “extended family” that is the audience!

What’s different about working with your children than, for example, someone like Celine Dion or Stevie Wonder?

On stage, as well as in the recording studio, I am, first and foremost, their father — a protective and demanding father. I must say, however, that I am lucky because Virginia, even though she is a young girl she has always been committed and responsible, and kept the right balance of lightness and serenity. Matteo has become a professionally mature artist, with his own personality and distinctive style. When speaking of the two great colleagues you cited, the one (Celine Dion) is a very dear friend and wonderful singer; the other (Stevie Wonder) is a living legend so great that having been able to do a duet with him was a dream come true.

What do you hope to evoke from the audience when you perform?

Every time I’m on stage, my main wish is to give the audience a bit of positivity and serenity, sparking smiles and a moment of tenderness. My hope is the same as always, and I am happy to be able to say this again: if members of the audience return to their homes from one of my concerts a bit more serene, with a smile on their faces, then I feel I have accomplished my mission.

In all your years of performing, what have you discovered about the power of music?

I can start off with my personal experience. Music has always been my therapy, a way to give lightness to life — I believe it has true therapeutic powers. Art is a gift from the heavens capable of lifting the spirit and propagating the good in this world. Good music can educate us, express peace and brotherhood, and open our hearts and minds.

Your music serves as the soundtrack to many people’s lives. How do you feel about that responsibility?

I think you used the right word, “responsibility.” Every artist, I believe, must understand the responsibility of their work and roles within society. Art and culture, in general, are formidable tools for mutual understanding and support for development and peace among people. Each of us has a God-given talent, a special gift unlike any other. The difficulty lies in knowing how to find it, to understand “what you were made for” and, again, take responsibility for it, with a seriousness and sense of sacrifice. One should not waste their talent, but let it flourish and put it at the service of others.

What do you enjoy most about performing all over the world?

By nature, I would say that I’m more of a homebody. I spend most of the year abroad, and I must admit that the hectic pace of my work schedule at times can weigh heavily on both me and my wife, Veronica. But this is the life that I chose and I am certainly grateful for it. Despite the fatigue, I have the privilege of dedicating myself, through work, to my greatest passion: music and song. In addition, I have fans that follow me with love and affection, which is the main reason I still find the strength at my age to cross the oceans and take to the stage again and again. I believe it is important to have a direct relationship with those who are kind enough to appreciate the fruits of my profession. As I always say, the best way to thank them is to do it in person, through a live performance. I think of concerts as a moment of encounter, enlivened by the pleasure of being together and sharing the emotions that music can spark.

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Can you talk a little about the importance of your faith and sharing messages of hope?

Faith is the great wager of life, one that is worth placing. I am sure of that. Those with faith improve their lives and the world around them. Faith is humility; it is being open to marvel, it is impetus toward the heavens above us, but also toward what is inside of us … the deepest part of us, the unknowable and immortal part of us that is the soul. Faith is the center of gravity in my life, touching both my private and professional spheres. To me, having faith means, primarily, believing in the power of good, and at every crossroad, taking the path that leads to good. Our conscience unfailingly knows how to respond correctly because God always speaks to our conscience. We just need to have the courage to listen to it.

Your charitable efforts have touched many lives. Could you share more about your philanthropic works and the causes that are near and dear to your heart?

Taking care of others does not simply mean being generous. Pursuing what is good is an act of intelligence, a path that everyone should see as one with no alternatives. We take from life as if we were all at a grand banquet, and in life, just as at a banquet, we enjoy it if there is enough for everyone. We can all do something, each according to one’s capabilities, according to one’s means. For example, giving others something more valuable than money, that is, some of their time — because you can’t buy time. The Andrea Bocelli Foundation was established in 2011. To date we have raised over 60 million Euros (destined for dozens of projects world-wide). Among our objectives is to restore decent living conditions through programs that cover access to health care, recovery services for humanitarian emergencies, and to supply basic necessities, such as drinkable water. The heart of the mission, however, is education. For the big ABF family, the idea of taking care of the individual, his or her true empowerment, also comes with care for their education, through innovative approaches and tools that use art, music, and digital technology as priceless educational resources.

Do you have a favorite opera or piece of music to perform? If so, what makes it special to you?

I am an operatic tenor; my preference is classical music and I adore the entire operatic production of Giacomo Puccini, but also composers, such as Giuseppe Verdi, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni (to stay within the Italian repertory). But I also like pop, and I believe that there are great songs from the past — or the Neapolitan romanze (folk ballads), or musical pieces — that have become “classics” in their own right. In some way even “Time to Say Goodbye” has become one. And it’s always a great pleasure to sing it. I can cite, for instance, “My Way” — a song that is perfect in every way, a tune that remains etched in the spirit, it gives us emotions and touches our hearts. In all honesty, however, for me to interpret a song to the best of my ability, I have to truly be in love with it each time! So, my most honest answer is that each song that I include in my repertory and that I perform in concert is one of my favorites.