Artist: Andrea Bocelli
Title: The Celebration: 30th Anniversary (Mercury Studios)
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Tell me more: Few modern-day singers have had an impact on popular music like Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The Celebration: 30th Anniversary captured the beloved singer celebrating his 30-year recording career at the open air amphitheater Teatro del Silenzio (Theatre of Silence) in 2024 in his hometown of Tuscany with a star-studded lineup of stellar guests. A newly-issued two-disc 4K UHD package features two shows — "The Celebration" and "30 Years of Musical Inspiration" (as well as an additional five bonus performances) — collectively featuring more than 4 and a half hours of footage! The audio and visual quality of The Celebration: 30th Anniversary is magical, immersing the viewer across the full length of the performances. Bocelli is joined by an 80-member orchestra along with a cast of more than 200 musicians including Ed Sheeran, Jon Batiste, Shania Twain, Brian May, Russell Crowe and many others.
Each of the performances featured on the outstanding title are enhanced by artful lighting, a winning use of technology, impressive stage design and the thoughtful arrangement of an admittedly diverse range of material ranging from operatic arias and Italian Neapolitan songs to contemporary favorites. Among the stellar selections on "The Celebration" are "Notte 'e Piscatore" where Bocelli is able to perform a poignant duet with the late Luciano Pavarotti, a medley of works from "La Boheme," a tender take on "Besame Mucho," a version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" where Bocelli plays guitar as part of an affecting vocal duet with his daughter Virginia Bocelli, and an emotional take on Queen's classic "Who Wants To Live Forever" featuring May playing guitar and sharing lead vocals with Bocelli.
"30 Years of Musical Inspiration" features a parade of inviting performances including the dramatic opener "O Sole Mio," Bocelli and Placido Domingo joining forces on "Amor, Vida de mi vida," actor Will Smith doing a dramatic reading of "You'll Never Walk Alone" while Bocelli plays piano, the riveting "Because We Believe" and the bewitching duet with Aida Garifullina, "Con Te Partiro."
In addition to the aforementioned 4K version, the title is also available via several other two-disc and four-disc deluxe formats. Information: mercurystudios.co. 
Robert Kinsler
