Andrea Bocelli

Me and the songstress-other-half knocked off a long time bucket list item last night. We went to see Andrea Bocelli live in Tampa.

He never ceases to tour but for a host of different reasons we have never been able to see, or get tickets to watch him. As it was he chose a night in Tampa as part of his Romanza 30th Anniversary tour, and we long ago snapped up tickets.

Romanza was his breakout album from 1997, which included Con Te Partiro, or it’s English counterpart Time to Say Goodbye with Sarah Brightman.

We have long had Bocelli playing in our house, not literally unfortunately, and I have wonderful memories of attempting to rock our daughter to sleep in her bedroom when she was a baby with My Christmas playing in the background. It was released a week after she was born.

For once I felt quite young among the crowd of well heeled and well dressed folk that had come out to worship the 67-year old Italian. The usual Tampa Bay Lightning stadium was filled to the brim.

He was of course brilliant, voice perfection, the virtuoso stood still on the stage, eyes closed (he’s been blind since he was 12), an ocassional smile cracked on his face as he milked applause or showed gratitude to his huge orchestra and numerous guests.

The show which lasted about two and half hours with a 20 minute break for a pee and a pint (me not him, he was probably on the Sangiovese), was part concert and part Broadway show. You never quite know who is going to accompany him on stage. In recent times Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Shania Twain, Brian May, Sarah Brightman and a whole list of others at a Google search have pitched up to sing with him on his variety of tours.

We didn’t know his guests, well we did the violinist but that’s a Bermuda story for another day, but they were all incredible and are now imprinted in my head.

Baritone Edward Parks, American Idol Pia Toscano and the incredible soprano Larisa Martínez were all amazing. Each had a moment to take the stage on their own as well. I can only imagine what an honour it must be to be invited to perform with the Italian master.

Three encores including singing happy birthday to his wife and of course his rendition of Nessun dorma, which Bocelli had just sung in Milan at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, and he was done, and it was delightful.

Bucket list ticked, and it leaves a big hole, but we are so glad we have it ticked.