The Taichung City Government has helped make it possible by offering to host the event at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium (TIBS).
Bocelli will be accompanied by the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Marcello Rota.
Tickets to the concert cost from NT$800 to NT$6,000 each. Ticket holders are requested to be inside the stadium by 6:30 p.m.
The Management of New Arts, promoter of the event, encourages the public to take the high-speed rail to Taichung. Those who will arrive after 4 p.m. will be taken to the concert site by special shuttle buses. The shuttle bus service will also be offered to those who will arrive by ordinary train.
Bocelli is probably best remembered for singing in tandem with Sarah Brightman songs like "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Con Te Partiro" years ago. Bocelli's "Romanza" album made the lists of top hits in many countries. He teamed up with Celine Dion in singing "The Prayer." This served as the musical theme of the animation film, "The Magic Sword."
The repertoire for the Taichung concert will include arias like "Va, pensiero sull'ali dorate" from Verdi's "Nabucco," "Brindisi" from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," "Di quella pira" from Verdi's "Il Trovatore," "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi," "O Mimi tu piu non torni" from Puccini's "La Boheme," "Brindisi" from Verdi's "La Traviata," and "Te Deum, E lucevan le stele" from Puccini's "Tosca." Bocelli will also sing Bixio's "Mamma," Aniello's "Vieni sul mar," Denza's "Funiculi Funicula," Rota's "La Strada" and "Amarcord," Tosti's "La Serenata," Di Capua's "O Sole Mio" and Sartori's "Canto della terra."
The Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium covering an area of 8.98 hectares has required an investment of NT$800 million. It can accommodate a crowd of at least 14,000. .
Rota was just in Taipei to rehearse in advance with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra. The Italian conductor, who is from Turin, has collaborated with Bocelli since 1995. The guest conductor is related to Nino Rota, Federico Fellini's famous soundtrack composer.
Having gone on tour with Bocelli a number of times, Rota cited a performance in snow-covered Switzerland one winter day as his most unforgettable experience with Bocelli. Although Bocelli wore a long coat because of the freezing weather, he told Rota that it was the first time his makeup did not melt under the klieg lights during a performance.
The traditional repertoire for the April 19 concert includes a variety of songs starting with the popular opera arias in the first part and Neapolitan songs in the second part, according to Rota. All told, the songs selected mainly by Bocelli make for easy listening.
Asked to give the secret of Bocelli's success as a singer, Rota cited his tone color, his rapport with his audience and his charming personality.
Rota described Bocelli as "very musical." He is always "very prepared" for his concert.
"We talk a lot about the program before the concert," revealed Rota. "I know beforehand what I must do. Therefore, everything should run smoothly."
Rota also shared his familiarity with the famous vocalist's habits: "The day before a performance, he does not talk. He has a good rest. If the concert is in the evening, he wakes up at 11 o'clock in the morning or at noon. In the afternoon, he engages in vocalizing exercise."
Bocelli takes each concert very seriously. He does not want to disappoint his fans. There is no question about it.
For ticket inquiries, call tel. (02)8712-1986 or tel. (02)2341-9898.
Source: Taiwan News
