Sogno Cary NC

Sogno

Andrea Bocelli

Sugar/Polydor, 1999

REVIEW BY: Tammy Childs

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 01/04/2005

Andrea Bocelli is the epitome of romantic Italian music. Born in1958 in the Tuscan countryside (lucky man), he says he "lives hislife with calm vision, enjoying life's simple pleasures." He grewup among vineyards and olive groves; a natural backdrop forromance. His love of Italian opera was encouraged at an early age.He started playing piano at age six.

Born with glaucoma, he lost his remaining sight in a socceraccident at the age of 12. It is said that when one sense is lost,the others become extremely defined and sensitized. Does that countfor the voice too? With Andrea it has indeed proven true; he hasthe voice of love. There is no way to more accurately describe hisvocalizations. If the feeling of love could be put into a sound, itwould be the voice of Bocelli.

Sogno is a modern pop album mixed with the music oftraditional Italy. "Tremo E T'amo" expresses this with the thought"delle rose, del vino e di cose" -- "of roses, of wine, of life'sother joys." This is a beautiful piece of music. And it expressesperfectly the Italian ideal of life -- to slow down, take time toexperience life rather than just live it.

Bocelli's heart pours into each and every song and it is at itsstrongest on a duet with Celine Dion called "The Prayer." Thesingle made a huge swoop across the US as a single, providing manylisteners with their first exposure to this gentleman's work. Thecouple plead for divine protection. The combination of Dion andBocelli is mesmerizing and it is an extraordinary cooperativeeffort.