Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli to sing at Masada
Famed Italian tenor to take part in one time performance in June. All proceeds dedicated to support of Galilee, Negev residents
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has accepted an invitation from the Israeli Opera to come to Israel in
June for a unique concert which will be held at the foothills of the famous Masada landmark. The concert will mark the closing of the Opera Festival which will include performances of "Aida" at the Masada and Jerusalem at the Sultan's Pool.
Musical Event
Classical music lovers from around world travel to Israel for 10th annual Red Sea Festival in southern resort city
Proceeds from the concert, which will be held June 12 in cooperation with the Or Association, will be dedicated to the support of residents of the Negev and the Galilee.
Bocelli will be accompanied by musicians from the Rishon Lezion Symphonic Orchestra and the opera choir. The famous tenor will sing famous arias from popular operas together Neapolitan songs. Choir and orchestra pieces will also be preformed during the concert.
Bocelli's last Israel visit was part of a visit in honor of the birthday of President Shimon Peres in 2008. Prior to this, the singer came to Israel for a gala concert with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta.
"Bringing Bocelli to Israel is a considerable accomplishment, but it should be noted that he was very happy to receive the invitation," said Manager of the Israeli Opera Chana Monitz, who, in her words, fulfilled her dream of holding the International Opera Festival at Masada.
"The success of the event we held on the foothills of Masada last year had a huge global impact, whose force surprised even us. The next step, launching a full opera festival, was a natural one and its implementation awards us significant standing among international opera festivals.
"When I told Bocelli about the event and we suggested that he come, he said he would do so gladly and was very interested in taking part. We are thrilled."
The maestro set to conduct the concert has yet to be determined, but the opera said that the issue will be finalized over the next few days.
Andrea Bocelli was born in Tuscany 52 years ago and suffers from glaucoma which left him completely bind by the age of 12. In 1992 he broke out as a singer thanks to an Italian rock star who needed a classic tenor for his song Miserere which he had originally written for Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. After hearing Bocelli, it was Pavarotti that changed the rock star's mind, leading him to hire Bocelli's services.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
