ANDREA BOCELLI ON NEW DOC ‘BECAUSE I BELIEVE' AND A POSSIBLE TAYLOR SWIFT DUET: "WHY NOT? I'M READY"

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is a beloved presence on the stages of this world. Now, his fans have a chance to find out more about his personal history since his childhood in the Tuscan village of La Sterza, get a feeling for what happens behind the scenes, and enjoy new insight into his private life thanks to Cosima Spender's documentary Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe, which celebrated its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Saturday.

"Over the last 30 years, with a rare repertoire that encompasses pop, rock, and opera, Andrea Bocelli and his golden voice have touched the hearts of millions of listeners around the world," a synopsis highlights. "Using last year's magisterial concert at the Baths of Caracalla as its anchor, Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe is an intimate portrait of one of the world's greatest living singers."

Spender (doc Palio, The Importance of Being Elegant) not only takes viewers through interviews and archival performance footage but also takes them to informal gatherings with Bocelli's friends and family.

Bocelli was on hand for the premiere and afterward took time to meet select members of the press in Toronto on Saturday.

How does it feel to be 65 and have not only the new doc about him made but also the 2017 feature The Music of Silence, directed by Michael Radford and starring Antonio Banderas that was based on the novel of the same name written by the tenor, freely inspired by his childhood life? "Embarrassed and at the same time surprised," Bocelli tells THR while stroking his dog on his lap. "I never thought that my life would be so interesting."

His favorite part of participating in Spender's doc may surprise those who don't know about the music superstar's passion for horse riding. "Just putting a saddle on my horse and galloping into the countryside - that was the most memorable thing for me," he shares.

Asked if he ever sees his music as a source of joy and comfort for people struggling with wars, conflicts and other negative news dominating the headlines, the tenor has this to offer: "Yes, music is definitely comfort. But I think the solution to the problems that we've always faced since the beginning of history, the problems of hate, of conflict, of envy, of self-centeredness, of all these things - I think the main solution to these problems is faith."

Adds Bocelli: "When humanity finally understands that to move on we have to cooperate, the importance of cooperation and coexistence instead of conflict, then we'll have a solution."

The doc shows the tenor dealing with fame with seeming ease. "I was never really obsessed with fame or reaching a certain celebrity," he explains. "My mother would always complain about me. ‘You're not doing anything to get anywhere in life, so nothing's going to become of you.' But I always believed in my fate and my destiny, and I always trusted in it. So I didn't live this journey with anxiety when fame came. I just wouldn't let it change my life and who I was."

That doesn't mean that his fans or other viewers of the movie should expect to see him present them with takeaways for life. "I have nothing to teach anyone. I am actually not a good teacher," Bocelli tells THR. "I am more of an ongoing pupil. I learn things every day, so I'm a good student. I have nothing to teach anyone or to tell anyone. People can interpret what they like from the film and take what they like from it."

Then he does think of one possible instructional nugget. "Possibly, aspiring singers could take something from my films, for example, the concept of singing naturally without forcing the projection of the voice," Bocelli says. "That's something that they can take away from the film."

Has he ever thought about letting a reality or other series take fans insight his life? The star is particularly quick and clear with this response: "No, no way." And he quips: "There are so many shows on the lives of people. I don't think you need mine."

So there is only one more thing to ask. Is there anybody the tenor would still like to work with? For example, will fans get to see a Taylor Swift duet with Bocelli? He has so far mostly spoken in Italian, helped by a translator, but now Bocelli responds in English: "Why not? I'm ready."

Anybody else he could see himself collaborating with? Bocelli sticks to English in wrapping up: "The world is full of beautiful voices."

2024-09-07T23:55:11Z dg43tfdfdgfd