Andrea Bocelli, the blind Italian tenor who always hits the top notes with effortless grace, put a spell on a glamorous Bangkok crowd in a concert at Paragon Hall on Sunday night.
"A Magical Night With Andrea Bocelli" ran almost three hours, with the singer performing a repertoire of beautiful, powerhouse tunes from both classical operas and contemporary compositions — plus an Elvis ballad that elicited a scream from the audience. The elite of Bangkok paid from 12,000 baht to a few hundred-thousand for a ticket (a table costing 1 million baht was available, with proceeds going to charitable purposes), and if they came to hear the voice of a man billed as "the world's most beloved tenor", not a soul would have been disappointed.
The performance was in two halves, with a 15-minute intermission. Bocelli, who devoted all his attention to singing, keeping small talk virtually non-existent, dominated the first half with a series of popular operatic numbers that showcased his vocal virtuosity. After the Mahanakorn Philhamonic Orchestra warmed up with Bizet's Carmen Overture, Bocelli, guided on stage by conductor Carlo Bernini, launched into the spirited, La Donna E Mobile, a well-known, up-tempo tune from Verdi's Rigoletto, followed by the lively De Quella Pira, from Verdi's Il Travotore — obviously the 19th century Italian operas are the tenor's home turf.
Cuban soprano Maria Aleida then took the stage and suddenly thrilled with the first bar of Je Veux Vivre, probably the best-known number of Gounod's Romeo Et Juliette. Her easy rapport and telepathic understanding with Bocelli rendered their duet L'amour L'amour, also from Romeo Et Juliette, a deeply moving ode to young love. Together, they performed another duet, O Soave Fanciulla from Puccini's La Boheme.
The programme's second half was more eclectic, as three American guest performers took turns on stage, and the concert moved resolutely into the 20th century. Bocelli resumed with the popular Spanish-language tune, Granada, followed by the playful Amapola. Then David Foster showed up and, like his previous visit in 2012, assumed the multiple roles of pianist, composer, emcee, court jester and all-around impresario, whose banter enlivened the mood. He performed the instrumental Winter Games, then brought out Katherine McPhee, a star from American Idol, to sing a touching version of Over The Rainbow. Together, they also did a soulful version of Elvis' Can't Help Falling in Love.
Foster later introduced Jackie Evancho, now 14, a vocal sensation who became a phenomenon five years ago with her America's Got Talent debut. Here, Evancho sang Andrew Lloyd Weber's Music Of The Night, from The Phantom Of The Opera — and the sweet-faced teenager became the most thrilling presence of the night, after Bocelli himself.
McPhee also performed HM the King's royal compositions Echo, while Thai talent Myra Molly sang a version of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's composition, Somtam (the concert was held as a tribute to HRH's 60th birthday).
The night closed with Bocelli, whose power remained unflagging every time he belted out the high notes, singing Sartori's Canto Della Terra, then a duet with McPhee on the anthem Time To Say Goodbye. With that, Bocelli delivered on his promise that the would be full of sonorous vibes and, indeed, magical.
