Concerto a Mosca! Impressions.

[Alexandra]

Ok, the story of the GREAT EVENING. I start from afar to make you feel how I felt during the last hours before the concert. It was unbearable waiting, I thought there wouldn't be an end to it. The beginning was delayed - people were coming endlessly (many of them had problems with finding a place for parking, I guess). I was at the place at 5.40 and the concert began at 7.25 or so. To the moment I arrived I couldn't control my excitement anymore, so I was almost running along the streets, with my heart ready to jump out of my chest. Finally it started... with the ouverture, of course, another several minutes of waiting while I knew that Andrea was so close, ready to walk on the stage. Ouverture must be cancelled at Andrea's concerts! But Glinka's piece to Ruslan and Ludmila was finished and the conductor Marcello Rota left the stage to come back with Andrea. Oh, btw, let me introduce the others to you.
Conductor - Marcello Rota
Soprano - Daniela Bruera
Bariton - Gianfranco Montresor
Russian Chaikovsky symphonic orchestra
State Academic Choir of Russia

And the list of arias and songs ( I'll write only Andrea's parts, if you don't mind)

Brindisi. Mascagni. Cavalleria Rusticana
The Pearl Fishers duet.
E lucevan le stelle
O soave fanciulla
The duet from La Boheme. Act IV (with Montresor)
Di quella pira

entr'acte

Vieni sul mar
Granada
Mamma
Funiculi funicula
O surdato 'nammurato
Marechiare
Brindisi. Verdi. Traviata

As you can see, the first part of the concert was operatic and the second - Canzoni Italiane e Napoletane. And of course, there was a surprise in the very end (not for me, because I didn't doubt a second that it would be there) - The Prayer, O Sole mio and Con te partiro.

Well, to Andrea now. Apparently he felt a little bit uneasy at the first, opera part of the concert,though he smiled from time to time. Have you ever notice the great difference in him when he sings arias and everything else. Even classical Neapolitan songs he sings in much more relaxed and calm manner. But opera arias are something sacred for him. He smiled only a couple of times before the interlude and that state of his was communicated to me. I was sitting with one thought - God, let him sing his best, let him be perfect and I can say my heart sank in the most difficult passages. But he WAS perfect or very close to perfect. High notes - incredible! And that tembre,.covering you all over softly and gently... Pearl Fishers duet was great, baritone was very good too and they made a fantastic sounding together. The second favourite of mine was O soave fanciulla from La Boheme. I think Andrea knows better than anyone how to sing this duet. I saw several versions before and all of them very wonderful. There's a moment when he takes Mimi's hand and smiles and they sing of Amore together... Brilliant!

Well, I'm not able to tell you about every piece he sang... In the second part of the concert he was, as I've already mentioned very relaxed and smiled all the time. I think there must be a special number of any concert's programme when Andrea stays on the stage and... just SMILES!!! The best smile I've ever seen, so open, so sincere and so shy and grateful! Well, when the official programme was finished he came three times more and sang three extra songs (see above). When the audience heard the first notes of each one it burst out with applause so loud that it muffled the orchestra for several seconds. He sang all three songs incredibly well and at the end of Time to say goodbye a woman next to me started crying... I'm sure she wasn't the only one. As for me I was smiling like a happy idiot and this smile was on my face all the way home and it's still there! And joy is pumping through all my veins. All I feel is a pure delight, exstatic joy and a feeling of simple childish happiness.
When all musicians left the stage an announcer said: "See you next year"! Hope he said it seriously and we'll see Andrea again in a short period of time.
All people were excited and amazed. They walked out the arena smiling and chatting about how great it was. When we crossed the street a car passed by and we could hear Con te partiro from its' open window. don't know if it was somebody from the concert or just a coincidence, but all in the crowd who heard it burst with a happy laughter.

The end...

And P.S. specially for Andrea

THANK YOU so much for this glorious evening!!! I hope you liked Moscow audience at list a half as it liked you! I want you to know that people were standing and clapping long ago you left the stage, and that they couldn't help shedding a tear or two and then smile happily. Thank you many times and WELCOME BACK to Moscow next year!!! With fondest love and gratitude,

Alexandra

[Janice]

Alexandra I am so glad to read your report! I actually thought of you while I was at work this morning and I knew tonight was your big night! Great to know that Andrea was in his top form and that you had such a memorable night. I was smiling right along with you as I read about you "almost running down the street". We all know that feeling for sure! I ABsolutely love your suggestion that Andrea just stand on stage and smile for a number. It would be odd for him for sure but we'd love it! I could totally feel the excitement and joy in the hall as you told the story. I hope you DO get another chance next year--I love your reports.

[carolina1954]

Lovely report Sasha ! We were there with you.
Maybe Renate can put it on Bo. de ?

[DueBaci]

ciao Alexa. Thank you for your heartfelt concert report !

I love his smile too. While we could just sit there and watch him smile for the length of one song (say oh 3 to 4 minutes)
.. I don't know that he would stand still long enough .

[Anne]

Thanks for your great report, Alexandra, I`m glad you have had such a wonderful experience!
Like you describe your feeling and excitement before and during the concert, it`s like if I look into a mirror, I always feel the same!!
And sure, we all love this smile, too.....

[eleanora]

Alexandra - what a wonderful report - thank you - I felt your excitement as I have any time I have been fortunate enough to see Andrea and that smile is just wonderful he is singing for so many people and yet it feels like he is just singing for you - thanks again for your report

[Carolina]

I was told by a good friend that you write an excellent concert report, and I was not disappointed. You make the reader feel they're right there with you. Very clear, and easy for all of us to understand! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself so much!! And I hope you do get another chance next year, and here's hoping for one in the U.S. sometime soon!!!!

[Tesora]

Thank you for your moving and inspired report, Sasha. I could imagine myself in your shoes ---- and I'm sure those shoes are still floating around in the clouds somewhere after that glorious evening!

[sam]

Grazie Alexandra per il bel rapporto!

It was unbearable waiting, I thought there wouldn't be an end to it.

To the moment I arrived I couldn't control my excitement anymore

I had done exactly like you when Andrea came here (Sydney)
Ah che bei ricordi!

[Michelle]

Thanks for the report Sasha! You brought the experience alive for all of us, I think - brilliant!

[LaCavallerizza]

Glad you enjoyed the conert Alexandra, thanks for the report!

[sofia]

What a touching report.It brings me back in mind the concert I saw last November.
Thank you for bringing these tender souvenirs alive again!

[Janice]

Lovely report Sasha ! We were there with you.
Maybe Renate can put it on Bo. de ?

I second this suggestion! Renate, Alexandra's report is a definite keeper. I do hope you add it to bo.de soon.

[Renate]

Lovely report Sasha ! We were there with you.
Maybe Renate can put it on Bo. de ?

I second this suggestion! Renate, Alexandra's report is a definite keeper. I do hope you add it to bo.de soon.

yes, sure, I would be glad to add it, if Alexandra kindly allows to do so.

[Alexandra]

I don't mind, Renate. It's a shame I don't have any photos... THey said that cameras are not allowed and my mobile phone camera is not good in the dull light.

[Patrice Adams]

[quote="Carolina"]I was told by a good friend that you write an excellent concert report, and I was not disappointed. You make the reader feel they're right there with you. Very clear, and easy for all of us to understand! Your excitement is clear and felt in every word you said. Alexandra! I am so glad you said that Andrea relaxed, I saw him in 2000 and noticed the changes in his countenance too. I hope Andrea shares his
thoughts and feelings about his concert with us. I miss his presence here with us. God Bless and keep him singing.

[carolina1954]

Scroll down to bottom right and there is a photo of Andrea...
Bad lighting, I think.....

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/

[DueBaci]

could be he's wearing the wrong color jacket for his skin tone. That mustard yellow makes him look like he's sick... and those bags under his eyes....

... bless his heart.

[carolina1954]

I know...that yellow does him no favours, does it....
I did not want to say he looks tired there, so I blamed it on the lighting...

Bless his heart indeed....

[Alexandra]

don't know if it works for anyone but me:

http://www.tvkultura.ru/video.html?id=2 ... _id=156604

video from the concert

[Alexandra]

and this is from the press conference:

http://www.tvkultura.ru/video.html?id=2 ... _id=156310

tell me it they work ok

[Gloria M]

don't know if it works for anyone but me:

http://www.tvkultura.ru/video.html?id=2 ... _id=156604

video from the concert

It came through just fine, Alexandra. Thanks for posting the link, and also for your wonderful concert report!

The sight of Andrea being escorted onto the stage is one that I've been fortunate to experience many times. It's amazing how just seeing it on this video gave me goosebumps. It's the most fantastic feeling--to know that an evening of sheer joy is about to follow! I hope that it won't be too long before he comes back to the US and I can have that pleasure of hearing him sing once again.

--Gloria M

[Alexandra]

Great to know it works!!! It's in Russian, but still very interesting. It's from the official site of Culture TV channel.

[Alaqua]

Thanks a lot for this post, Alexandra!

I've also been there yesterday. It was the first concert of Andrea Bocelli, i've visited. I can't express all my feelings. It was heavenly! I can't still belive that i've really been there, that I've seen him and heard his fantastic voice.

You know, i have the same thoughts when i see his smile.. )

And i was one of that persons who was crying.

--------
FOR ANDREA:

Thank you so much for this concert!! It was amazing....heavenly!

Thank you for your voice. It's miraculous! It makes me feel flying, totally happy, it makes me stronger and more pure.
When you are singing, i feel the sound of your voice right in my soul. And my eyes fill with tears of happiness.

I've heard you first when you had been singing at the closing of the Olympic games in Torino. And yesterday it was the first concert of you that i've visited. The concert in Olimpiisky. Singular coincidences )

Thank you very much once again!
Your singing makes the world better!

[DueBaci]

the links work just fine Alexa ! Spasibo !