Andrea Bocelli In Live performance with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, with Cristina Pasaroiu, soprano; Edward Parks, baritone; Pia Toscano, vocalist; Rusanda Panfili, violin; College of Toronto’s MacMillan Singers; Steven Mercurio, conductor. TD Coliseum, Hamilton, ON. December 9, 2025.
He has carried out for popes, royalty and presidents. Sung at worldwide occasions just like the Olympics, Expo, Formulation One and FIFA World Cup. Collaborated with the most effective and most revered classical and pop artists of our instances. And bought over 90 million information worldwide.
Andrea Bocelli’s spectacular resume goes on and on. However, he’s before everything a classical tenor, endorsed even by the nice Luciano Pavarotti.
Tuesday’s live performance at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum was his solely Canadian cease on his 2025 world tour. The 2-hour program was a group of opera arias and beloved standard ballads in Italian, French, German, English and Latin.
Bocelli is a person of few phrases. Even when the one sentence he mentioned was, “It’s my privilege to be right here for the primary time in Hamilton” — he immediately captured our hearts and that was all we would have liked to listen to.
First Half
The primary half of this system was launched with a video compilation of the 67-year-old’s appearances in lots of well-known opera lead roles.
From the shimmering first notes of “La donna è cell” from Rigoletto, we had been reminded that he nonetheless has the identical operatic prowess that outlined the beginnings of his profession. His signature heat tenor with that distinctive, immediately recognizable timbre was a soul-soothing balm. He may nonetheless belt out a chronic excessive C with ease in Il Trovatore’s “Di quella pira.”
Bocelli is understood to ask visitor artists to his live shows. There was no Matteo or Virginia this time, however he introduced in Romanian soprano Cristina Pasaroiu and American baritone Edward Parks for additional operatic energy. Pasaroiu delivered a mesmerizing solo of “Mein Lippen” from Giuditta with a velvety instrument and crystalline tone. She was additionally an ideal Violetta in her duet with Bocelli in La Traviata’s “Brindisi.”
Parks carried out essentially the most well-known baritone aria of all instances, “Largo al factotum” from The Barber of Seville, with loads of humourous aptitude. Predictably, this was adopted by the equally well-known tenor and baritone duet, “Au fond du temple saint” from The Pearl Fishers. In a second paying homage to The Three Tenors, Bocelli and Parks held the piece’s final excessive word for a full 15 seconds.
Offering background accompaniment had been the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the College of Toronto’s MacMillan Singers, below the course of American conductor Steven Mercurio. Each the HPO and MacMillan Singers are excessive calibre ensembles in their very own proper. If there was a weak hyperlink, it might be the imbalance amongst the voices that was made worse when amplified via microphones, and between the choir and the orchestra. The orchestra was so loud that “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana was a shouting match between the 2 ensembles.
Second Half
The extra substantial second half was an eclectic mixture of acquainted items. Moldovan-born violinist Rusanda Panfili delighted with electrifying preparations of “Carol of the Bells” and music from “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Bocelli and American pop artist Pia Toscano carried out two duets: “Can’t assist falling in love” and “Vivo per lei,” the latter being certainly one of Bocelli’s hottest numbers. Though Toscano’s very expressive stage presence appeared a mismatch to Bocelli’s reserved model, her solo of “All on my own” got here near rivalling Celine Dion’s model.
Again to Bocelli, he charmed us with just a few of his well-known Italian songs like “Canto della terra,” and he even confirmed off his flute-playing with “Non ti scodar di me.” As anticipated, there have been the seasonal Christmas songs, and he selected essentially the most basic ones. “Adeste fideles” (O come all ye devoted) and “Minuit, chrétiens” (O Holy Evening) had been sung with easy purity.
It could possibly be mentioned that Bocelli’s singing was extra about energy than feelings. I yearned to listen to extra tenderness, nuance and vary of colors in his voice. However when he carried out his personal composition of “Ave Maria,” which he defined was impressed by his return to religion and spirituality throughout the pandemic, it was clearly his most heartfelt and stirring supply of the night.
Remaining Ideas
Though he has been criticized by some for his lack of technical energy and operatic rigour of conventional tenors, in addition to his crossover dilution, there isn’t a doubt of his common attraction to various musical tastes by efficiently bridging classical and up to date types.
His private journey provides components of hope and inspiration that transcend his musical expertise. Positive, there have been just a few tuning misses and delayed entries that may not escape a educated ear, however whilst a reviewer, I ended listening for flaws after I was having fun with each minute of it. As a performer, he was the entire bundle with no need the packaging. Whereas his recordings are chic, listening to him reside was an extremely uplifting and extraordinary expertise.
After many rounds of standing ovations and cheers from the very enthusiastic crowd, Bocelli rewarded us with just a few encores. There will surely have been a riot if he didn’t sing “Con te partirò,” his best-selling single of all instances. After we thought nothing else may high that, he gave us essentially the most magnificent finale, Turandot’s “Nessun dorma.” Holding the final excessive B of “vincerò” for a whopping 12 seconds, he introduced the home down one final time.
Andrea, we couldn’t get sufficient of you. We are able to’t wait so that you can come again to Ontario once more quickly!
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Denise Lai is a Physiotherapist and School Professor. She is an alumnus of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and a rusty piano participant.
