Current:Home > NewsAndrea Bocelli on working with Russell Crowe, meeting the Kardashians and new concert film -WealthRise Academy
Andrea Bocelli on working with Russell Crowe, meeting the Kardashians and new concert film
View
Date:2025-04-13 01:54:31
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! (89917)
Related
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Secret records: Government says Marine’s adoption of Afghan orphan seen as abduction, must be undone
- Brazil’s Supreme Court sentences rioter who stormed capital in January to 17 years in prison
- Anitta Shares She Had a Cancer Scare Amid Months-Long Hospitalization
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- In a court filing, a Tennessee couple fights allegations that they got rich off Michael Oher
- Judge issues interim stay of New York AG's $250M fraud suit against Trump: Sources
- Water bead recall: 1 death, 1 injury linked to toy kits sold at Target
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Confirmed heat deaths in hot Arizona metro keep rising even as the weather grows milder
Ranking
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Alabama Public Library Service to create list of controversial books
- China is sending Vice President Han Zheng to represent the country at UN General Assembly session
- Thousands sign up to experience magic mushrooms as Oregon’s novel psilocybin experiment takes off
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Governor appoints central Nebraska lawmaker to fill vacant state treasurer post
- 'DWTS' fans decry Adrian Peterson casting due to NFL star's 2014 child abuse arrest
- An eye in the sky nabbed escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante. It's sure to be used more in US
Recommendation
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
How hard will Hurricane Lee hit New England? The cold North Atlantic may decide that
California lawmakers sign off on ballot measure to reform mental health care system
EU faces deadline on extending Ukrainian grain ban as countries threaten to pass their own
The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
Libya flooding presents unprecedented humanitarian crisis after decade of civil war left it vulnerable
Thailand’s opposition Move Forward party to pick new leader as its embattled chief steps down
As UAW strike looms, auto workers want 4-day, 32-hour workweek, among other contract demands