After Dinner Speakers: Andrea Bocelli, Gareth Chilcott, David Attenborough

The Andrea Bocelli story is of a young tenor from rural Tuscany who, in 1993, embarked on a journey that has led him to international stardom. From playing in piano bars to pay for his singing tuition fees, he is now one of the biggest selling artists in the world, achieving massive chart success and performances with Pavarotti, Bryan Adams and Zucchero. Europe and the Americas have embraced this extraordinary man whose remarkable voice and range are capable of singing great operatic arias and classical popular love songs. The Early Years Born on September 22nd, 1958, Andrea grew up on the family farm in Lajatico, a close knit farming community set amongst the vineyards and olive groves of rural Tuscany. The farm includes a small vineyard, from which Andrea's father, Sandro, still produces a small quantity of 'Chianti Bocelli'. Displaying rare musical gifts from an early age, Andrea's parents nurtured and encouraged his talents with formal piano lessons from the age of six, later learning to play both flute and saxophone. Andrea's love of opera was also apparent from an early age, and he feels he was destined to sing. "I was one of those children who would always be asked to sing for my relatives. I don't think one really decides to be a singer - other people decide it for you by their reaction." After school, Andrea studied law at the University of Pisa, and these years are fondly recalled as a highly enjoyable period in his life. Graduating as a Doctor of Law, Andrea spent a year acting as a court-appointed defence lawyer, before embarking on a make-or-break attempt at singing. He approached the legendary tenor, Franco Corelli, famous for working with some of the greatest voices in the world, who readily agreed to take Andrea as his pupil. To pay the fees Andrea performed at night in piano bars and clubs, and at one of these venues he met Enrica, his future wife. The couple have now been married for five years, with two sons, Amos and Matteo. The Discovery - Zucchero and Luciano Pavarotti In 1992 a chain of events accelerated Andrea from piano bar performer to international superstardom: Italian rock legend Zucchero held auditions for tenors to make a demo tape of the duet Miserere, the track co-written with U2's Bono, in an attempt to persuade Luciano Pavarotti to record the song. Zucchero recalled: "Andrea was just unbelievable! He had something not one of the other tenors possessed. He had soul." When Pavarotti received the demo, he was extremely impressed with Andrea's voice. "Zucchero! Who is this guy?" Pavarotti demanded. "Thank you for writing such a wonderful song. Yet you do not need me to sing it - let Andrea sing Miserere with you, for there is no one finer." Zucchero convinced Pavarotti to record Miserere with him, and the duo scored a Europe-wide smash hit. When Zucchero embarked on his European tour, with the public crying out to hear the hit live, he invited Bocelli to perform the duet in place of Pavarotti. Bocelli was received tremendously, and a solo spot was incorporated into the concerts. Pavarotti later arranged to meet with Andrea, and a friendship was formed. Andrea's fame and popularity increased with a high profile performance at Pavarotti's annual charity gala concert, which brings together the worlds of classical and popular music, and this saw Andrea performing not only with his host, but with stars of popular music including Bryan Adams. A 1995 pan-European tour, 'Night of the Proms' featuring Bocelli, Bryan Ferry, Al Jarreau and others, saw Andrea performing to a live audience totalling 500,000 with televised audiences numbering tens of millions. Sugar Music & The Sanremo Festival Andrea's recording career began in earnest when in 1993 he signed to Insieme/Sugar, the Milan-based music group founded in the 1930's who represent scores of famous Italian artists. Caterina Caselli, Sugar's President, heard Andrea singing Miserere and Nessun dorma at Zucchero's birthday party and a deal was done immediately. In November 1993 Andrea entered the preliminary round of the prestigious Italian Sanremo Music Festival, performing both parts of the duet Miserere. Andrea won the preliminary competition with the highest marks ever recorded in the 'New Entrants' category. In spring 1994 Andrea entered the main competition with Il mare calmo della sera, and victory was again awarded with a record score. His début album was released and immediately entered the Italian Top Ten, and went platinum in a matter of weeks. As winner of the 1994 Sanremo Festival Andrea was invited, as is the tradition, to return the following year. Andrea was to enter with Con te partirò, taken from his second album Bocelli produced by another of Italy's leading record producers, Mauro Malavasi. The album was to go on to achieve double platinum sales in Italy. Major international chart success with single and album releases Bocelli's worldwide success has been phenomenal, scoring No. 1 singles and albums. The singles Con te partirò and Time to Say Goodbye have smashed sales records in several countries, whilst Andrea's albums have amassed sales awards across Europe. Bocelli's original solo version of the single Con te partirò, featured on the album Bocelli was a massive hit; in France the single topped the charts for 6 weeks, earning a triple Gold sales award; in Belgium the single became the biggest hit of all time, spending 12 weeks at No. 1. The album Bocelli has been awarded Platinum status in all territories of releases, including sextuple platinum in Belgium, quadruple platinum in Germany (selling nearly two million copies), quadruple platinum in Holland and double platinum in Italy. In Germany, November 1996, Andrea and Sarah Brightman were invited to perform the duet Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò) at the farewell contest of the German World Light-Heavyweight boxing champion, Henry Maske. A national hero held in unrivalled esteem, he is known for his love of selecting entrance themes to his bouts. Sarah Brightman, the internationally renowned soprano and friend of Henry Maske heard Con te partirò in a restaurant whilst dining with friends. Entranced by the singer and the song, Brightman made contact with Andrea. Bocelli and Brightman re-recorded Con te partirò as the duet Time to Say Goodbye with members of the London Symphony Orchestra. Maske, unfortunately, was defeated on points by US champion Virgill Hill. As the German public paid tribute to their departing hero, the arena was filled with the glorious sound of Time to Say Goodbye. The single was released and shot to No. 1 where it resided for 14 weeks. With sales nearing three million copies, and a sextuple platinum award, Time to Say Goodbye has eclipsed the previous best-selling single by over 1 million copies. However, it was Romanza, Bocelli's international début album released in 1997, which took him to even greater heights of success. In the short period since its release, Romanza has already received platinum and double platinum sales awards in virtually all territories of release. Andrea's unprecedented worldwide success is testament to the power of his unique voice and irresistible warmth in overcoming barriers of language and culture. The Present With international success making increasing demands on Andrea, one might have expected to see a change in this delightful warm man, living only for his love of music, who Zucchero first met. Yet international success has offered little to distract Andrea from his love for the simple Tuscan life, where he has recently rebuilt an old stone farm house for both himself and his family, close to the original family farm. It is here that Andrea returns to his home, perhaps to indulge in the only other great passion of his life, horses. Saddling up one of his stable of six Arabian horses to gallop wild and gracefully across the Tuscan countryside or through the turf, Andrea becomes a free spirit, graceful and wild like the voice which has blown across the world like a warm wind from the Mediterranean.