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Manchester’s Co-op Live stage must have been groaning on Friday night under the sheer weight of talent upon it. It was the first date of tenor Andrea Bocelli’s European tour, a string of much-anticipated concerts to celebrate the beloved singer’s 30th anniversary. With 90 million-plus albums sold, and more than 16 billion streams to date, in his 30 year career Bocelli has performed for Popes, including the late Pope Francis, Presidents, Prime Ministers and royalty, and sung in many of the greatest concert halls and opera houses. It’s safe to say that he has one of the most recognisable voices in the entertainment industry. At 8pm sharp (what a treat!) Bocelli took to the stage of the Co-op Live to polite applause. Rest assured, this careful clapping soon ramped up.
Indeed as the show – a 23-song spectacle – progressed, with each passing number richer in theatre and voice than the last, by the time the set drew to a close the roof was well and truly raised. There were tears too. But more on that later. The show started with a montage, with imagery and film depicting Andrea Bocelli’s three-decade-long career. As it ended, Andrea walked onstage, dapper in a gold jacket and bow tie; behind him a full orchestra rumbling into action, alongside a 30-something piece choir, women to the left, men to the right. His first song, La Donna è Mobile, he sang alone. Bocelli’s voice, as always, was like the most delicious honey. Then we were introduced to the first guest performer of the show: Mariam Battistelli, an incredible Italian soprano born in Ethiopia, who would continue to feature throughout.
And the special guests kept coming. Next we were introduced to extraordinary flutist Andrea Griminelli. He was simply astounding, with proverbial smoke billowing from his fingers as he played. Then, Moldovan-born Rusanda Panfili took to the stage with her violin and all the sass of Beyonce. An absolute rockstar; I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Elsewhere, two beautiful dancers – Angelica Gismondo and Francesco Costa – added light and shade to the stage.
The final guest star to make our acquaintance was Pia Toscano, a pop-style singer who frequently duets with Andrea Bocelli. After bringing the house down with an initial solo of All By Myself (wow wow wow), the pair sang The Prayer. To my surprise, as the final bars played out I found myself wiping a tear off my cheek.
The first half of the show warmed us up, with Je Veux Vivre and Addio Fiorito Asil. But it was the second half that turned the Co-op Live into a party. Funiculì, Funiculà was particularly fun, and a great tribute to the late great Luciano Pavarotti, whose image was shown several times.
An encore saw Bocelli delight the 23,500-strong crowd to Sole Mio, sung with Mariam, then Time To Say Goodbye, which went down like a cold towel on a hot day – deliciously. Bocelli’s voice was out in full force. I had goosebumps. Between each song, Bocelli, arm in arm with conductor Carlo Bernini, teased leaving the stage, walking back on to escalating cheers. “I’m too old for this,” he joked. It was one of the only times he spoke throughout the show.
Ending on Nessun Dorma, the famous song’s final notes soaring into the stratosphere, Bocelli reminded us why he’s the most successful classical artist of all time. What a voice. What a show. I want to watch it all over again immediately.
