Hitting the high notes

ANDREA BOCELLI, one of the most popular tenors in the world with a repertoire that covers a spectrum of sounds from opera and pop, is finally coming to Thailand later this month. The star’s concert, “A Magical Night with Andrea Bocelli: The World’s Most Beloved Tenor”, is being staged at the Royal Paragon Hall on the fifth floor of Siam Paragon on April 26.

 “This is the first time Andrea Bocelli is performing in Thailand,” says Vinij Lertrattanachai, chief executive of Fresh Air Festival, which is collaborating with Pace Development Corporation for the concert. “Fans will hear such world-famous songs as ‘Time to Say Goodbye’, ‘The Prayer’, ‘Nessundorma’ and ‘Besame Mucho’ live rather than on CD. David Foster and many other singers will also be on stage.”

“This is a glorious year for Pace, especially in terms of the progress of Maha Nakhon project’s construction, which has now reached its 77th floor and a height of 314 metres. The building will be the country’s tallest skyscraper and once completed, a new Bangkok landmark. We have chosen to celebrate this new high by hosting this concert,” says Pace Development’s chief executive Sorapoj Techakraisri.

The 57-year-old Italian tenor singer brings with him to Bangkok such guests as Grammy award winner David Foster, Katharine McPhee, the winner of “American Idol”, Jackie Evancho, winner of “America’s Got Talent”, Cuban soprano Maria Aleida, and crossover guitar duo Carisma and Maestro Bernini.

The recent press conference saw Kittinan Chinsamran from “The Voice Thailand” and Patcha Anek-Ayuwat of True Academy Fantasia performing “The Prayer” before handing over to Teeranai Na Nongkhai for “Time to Say Goodbye”.

Bocelli is best known for his collection of arias from “La Boheme”, “Il Trovatore”, “Werther”, “Pagliacci”, “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Tosca”, as well as his classical and pop music albums, which have topped 55 million copies in sales worldwide. His 2007 greatest hits compilation, “Vivere: The Best of”, featured the hits “Time to Say Goodbye” a duet with the world’s biggest selling soprano, Sarah Brightman, and “The Prayer”, on which he sang with Celine Dion. Bocelli has also been selected to sing the theme song of the World Expo Milano 2015, which opens in the northern Italian town in May.

“The concert is a remarkable symposium of more than 100 world’s leading orchestra musicians and chorus crews, and the audience will be held spellbound for the entire two hours,” says MR Ruchayabha Abhakara, chief operating officer of Fresh Air Festival.

Proceeds will go to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the occasion of her 60th birthday anniversary.

 

BUY NOW!

“A Magical Night with Andrea Bocelli: The World’s Most Beloved Tenor” will take place at the Royal Paragon Hall on the fifth floor of Siam Paragon on April 26 at 8pm.

n Just 2,000 tickets, priced at Bt12,000 and Bt25,000, are for sale. They’re available at Thai Ticket Major and online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.