ANDREA BOCELLI'S CINEMA (2015)




Some people will probably scoff this off as high art, but this reviewer feels otherwise. This is an artiste whose personal story is so inspiring, we are just waiting for a biography movie to be made about him. Italian classical tenor Andre Bocelli, who was born with poor eyesight, became blind at a young age of 12 following a soccer accident. That did not stop him from pursuing his love music, going in life to release solo albums, having them sell like hot cakes and winning countless awards along the way.

Yup, this is the 57 year old guy who gave you the radio hits “The Prayer” (sung beautifully with Celine Dion) and “Time to Say Goodbye” (a duet with Sarah Brightman that never fails to pull heartstrings). The concept of his 15th studio album is one that we are loving – a compilation of renditions from classic film soundtracks and scores. The 64 minute album even contains a bonus track featuring Hong Kongsinger Karen Mok crooning the lovely “Cheek to Cheek” from Top Hat (1935).

The CD kicks off with “Maria” from the Broadway hit West Side Story, followed by the regally composed “La chanson de Lara” from Dr Zhivago (1965). Things get romantic with “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), before Ariana Grande comes on to duet the powerful “E più ti penso” from the crime drama Once Upon A Time in America (1984).

Listeners will be familiar with “The Music of the Night” from the hit musical The Phantom of the Opera and the iconic theme “Brucia la terra” from The Godfather (1972). You can imagine Bocelli serenading in his Casanova mode with “Por Una Cabeza” from Scent of a Woman (1992), and singing about the joys of life with “Sorridi amore vai”from Life is Beautiful (1997). Another very apt track to contain in the album to showcase the grandeur of Bocelli’s vocals is “Nelle tue mani (Now We Are Free)” from Gladiator (2000).

This is one album which you can play over and over again, simply because it contains good music accompanied by one of the most beautiful voices we have today.  

ALBUM RATING:



Recommended Track: 
(17) Cheek to Cheek – duet with Karen Mok (From Top Hat)

Review by John Li

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TRACK LISTING
1
Maria (From West Side Story)
2
La chanson de Lara (From Dr. Zhivago)
3
Moon River (From Breakfast At Tiffany's)
4
E più ti penso (From Once Upon A Time In America)
5
Be My Love (From The Toast Of New Orleans)
6
The Music Of The Night (From The Phantom Of The Opera)
7
Brucia la terra (From The Godfather)
8
Por Una Cabeza (From Scent Of A Woman)
9
No Llores Por Mi Argentina (From Evita)
10
L'amore è una cosa meravigliosa (from Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing)
11
Mi mancherai (From Il Postino/The Postman)
12
Cheek To Cheek (From Top Hat)
13
Sorridi amore vai (From Life Is Beautiful)
14 Historia de Amor (from Love Story)
15 Ol' Man River (from Show Boat)
16 Nelle tue mani (Now We Are Free) (From Gladiator)
17 Cheek To Cheek duet with Karen Mok (From Top Hat)

 

 ABOUT THE SOUNDTRACK

Artist: Andrea Bocelli
Label: Universal Music
Release Date: October 23, 2015