Andrea Bocelli in Germany from 12 to 19 October 2023

Classical, pop and schlager - Andrea Bocelli manages to bridge the boundaries between genres with her unique voice. The Italian tenor has been delighting his fans for several decades and has already sold more than 85 million records.

It is not only his singing that never ceases to amaze, but also his outstanding performance. This is why Andrea Bocelli's international tours are among the most exciting events that the modern classical music scene has to offer. Andrea Bocelli is an exceptional talent, performing in the most important concert halls and opera houses in the world - often in front of such distinguished figures as presidents, popes or the English royal family.

"O Sole Mio!" - Andrea Bocelli's childhood in Tuscany

Andrea Bocelli was born in Lagiatico, Tuscany, in 1958. His love of classical music became apparent within hours of his birth: when opera music began to play from an adjacent room in the hospital's maternity ward, the boy suddenly stopped crying - at least according to legend. It doesn't matter if this story is true: In any case, the Italian was born with musical talent.

Andrea Bocelli grew up on his family's farm. He began studying piano at the age of six. In his youth he also played the flute, saxophone and clarinet. Andrea Bocelli won his first singing competition at the age of twelve with the song "O Sole Mio". That same year, he was hit in the head with a soccer ball, resulting in blindness due to a congenital visual impairment.

International breakthrough: from duet partner to opera star

After graduating from high school, Andrea Bocelli first studied law and worked as a lawyer for a year. But even at this time, music remained an integral part of his life. He took singing lessons and performed in bars - preferably with Frank Sinatra songs.

The first big leap in Andrea Bocelli's career came in 1992, when Italian rock singer and megastar Zucchero chose him as a duet partner for his song "Miserere" and took him on an international tour.

When singer Caterina Caselli hears Andrea Bocelli sing at one of Zucchero's birthday parties, she recognizes his extraordinary talent. As a manager and producer, she helps him secure his first album recording contract. Andrea Bocelli's first album "Il Mare Calmo Della Sera" burst into the charts upon release and went platinum within a few weeks.

The Italian tenor made his international breakthrough in the mid-1990s alongside soprano Sarah Brightman. Together they record a duet version of the song "Time To Say Goodbye", which becomes the farewell song of the famous boxer Heinrich Maske.

The single also becomes a number one hit in Germany and is certified fifteen times platinum. In February 1998, Andrea Bocelli made his opera debut as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Teatro Comunale in Cagliari.