Andrea Bocelli on his new album, film and 30 years of making music: 'I like to think to the future'

NEW YORK -- It's 1 of nan astir instantly recognizable voices connected nan planet: Andrea Bocelli's tenor is beloved crossed generations, cultures and borders, known to induce tears successful arsenic fewer arsenic 3 elemental words: “Con Te Partirò,” aliases successful its English performance, “Time to Say Goodbye.”

This year, he's celebrating nan 30th day of his profession pinch a caller compilation album, “Duets,” featuring some antecedently released and brand-new collaborations of his best-known activity — arsenic good arsenic a fewer astonishing modern covers — and nan merchandise of a caller performance film, “Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration,” which will get successful theaters connected Friday.

So, why duets?

“I've loved voices since erstwhile I was a child, and I for illustration very overmuch to stock nan shape pinch nan champion artists and voices. So, this album, location are nan champion duets that I did successful my life,” he told The Associated Press. “From nan first, ‘The Prayer’ pinch Celine Dion, until nan last, for illustration ‘Perfect’ pinch Ed Sheeran and many, galore others. And nan medium has been remastered and remixed. So, I dream nan sound tin beryllium better."

He says: “The astir important point successful voices... is to beryllium recognizable, to springiness emotion."

Sheeran was an absorbing collaboration because erstwhile Bocelli first attempted to singing “Perfect," nan English singer-songwriter wasn't a fan. “He didn’t for illustration what I did because I sang successful a popular style,” he recalls. “He wanted to perceive to my voice, for illustration successful an operatic style.” So, Sheeran traveled to Bocelli's location successful Tuscany, and nan opus was transformed. “He was correct because this opus had a immense success.”

When asked if location is anyone he would've loved to adhd to nan “Duets” collection, Bocelli says of people — but “they passed distant earlier I began to sing. For example, I would for illustration very overmuch to singing pinch Maria Callas aliases (Renata) Tebaldi aliases Magda Olivero. Many great, unthinkable singers. They are not anymore pinch us, unfortunately.”

Three decades into his career, Bocelli has performed for presidents, popes, and sold-out stadiums crossed nan globe — successful summation to having sold astir 90 cardinal records worldwide, according to a property release. “Reality exceeded my wildest dreams,” he says.

How he reflects connected that clip should travel arsenic nary surprise. “I for illustration to singing to nan future. Honestly, I don’t for illustration to deliberation pinch nostalgia to nan past," he says. “My first clip connected stage, for maine it is for illustration yesterday. The clip is gone truthful quickly, truthful fast. And, yeah, now I for illustration to deliberation to nan future.”

So, what, then, does he dream becomes his bequest successful nan adjacent 30 years, 300 years? “In Italy, we person a very celebrated expression: The group that travel aft america will judge us,” he says pinch a translator. “So I can’t unit nan judge(ment) of nan people. But I consciousness that my assemblage has a large affection for me, and this is my goal. When personification successful nan thoroughfare comes to maine and says (to) me, ‘Thank you for your voice, for your music,’ I deliberation ngo is accomplished."

Across “Duets,” Bocelli sings successful Italian, English, French and Spanish. “There are galore languages, but it’s truthful difficult. I retrieve nan time I tried to singing successful Chinese, only fewer lines, but it has been truthful difficult for me,” he laughs.

He besides performs crossed genres, moving pinch everyone from Latin superstars for illustration Karol G and Jennifer Lopez to state musicians for illustration Chris Stapleton and Shania Twain. “I would for illustration to effort to singing jazz," he says. “But it’s excessively difficult for maine because you must unrecorded successful an atmosphere, to study measurement by step, time by day. I for illustration jazz but it’s excessively acold from nan acquisition of my life.”

There is small he hasn't done crossed these past 3 decades, but nan eventual extremity now, he says, is steeped successful faith. “I person been very fortunate and I reached nan affection of nan people. Now I must effort to merit nan affection of nan God. It’s much difficult."

But he will proceed to execute for those who emotion him. On Dec. 4, Bocelli's U.S. circuit kicks disconnected successful San Diego and runs done nan month, earlier commencing again successful February and June 2025. The last dates will beryllium held successful Napa Valley, California, connected June 21 and 22.