Andrea Bocelli

A few weeks after we got home from Italy I got a call from Morag saying Andrea Bocelli was coming to Salt Lake City and was wondering if we wanted to go see him with them. Crazy since we were just in Verona the very evening that he was performing at the Colosseum and I was telling Andy how fun it would've been to have been able to sit in the piazza and listen to his performance. Unfortunately it was our last day in Italy and we had to be at the airport at 4am in Venice so we couldn't stay. Fast forward to almost a year later and I get another phone call from Morag saying if I remembered how we were going to go to the Andrea Bocelli concert?? Of course I remembered and then she told me they forgot and booked tickets to Europe and would be gone and would have to miss it but they bought 8 tickets that we could use. Eight tickets?!? They had never mentioned that before so I was shocked they got so many. We were able to go with the kids, Patrice, and my neice, Sophie. It was at the Vivint Smart Home Arena where the Utah Jazz play and there wasn't an empty seat to be seen. I also noticed as we were waiting in line there were no kids except ours.

I didn't know what to expect from the concert as far as guest performances as well if the songs chosen would be more of his contemporary songs which we love or his classical opera songs which we were less familiar with. Either way it was a once in a lifetime chance to go see him and we knew it would be amazing. The concert started with the orchestra and a choir and then the conductor walked to the side of the stage and escorted Andrea out to the center of the stage and within 2 seconds he started singing. He sang a few classical songs that were unfamiliar but the power of his voice was amazing. The first guest performer was Larisa Martinez and the minute she started singing I knew there had to be another guest performer because her voice didn't seem the right fit for The Prayer duet that I knew had to be sung. For sure the right voice for Time to Say Good-bye another song I was anxious to hear. There was a violinist Caroline Campbell who was amazing. During the intermission Braden commented that Andrea hadn't spoken to the audience and I had noticed that too but didn't know if he would? After the intermission the orchestra started with a Stars and Stripes medley and then Andrea came out and sang Maria from West Side Story. Taylor looked at me with a giggle because I've sang that song on occasion. He probably sounded just a little better. ;) He sang his new song If Only which made me a little teary eyed. It's beautiful. Then he went right into Christmas songs--Ave Maria and Adeste Fideles. Chills for sure on that last one-O Come All Ye Faithful. Everything just sounds better in Italian. The last guest performer was Pia Toscano who sounded exactly like Celine Dion and sang All By Myself. He sang a few more songs and then it happened. He spoke to the audience and said something about his love of Utah and his fond memories of singing with "Our Choir" some years ago. He said he would never forget our affection and was escorted around the stage to wave and take his bows. The standing ovation was something to behold. I don't think I've ever experienced one quite like it. It was so so loud but in unision of respect and adoration. He came back for the first encore which I was so happy about because The Prayer, Time to Say Goodbye, and Vivo Per Lei...not sung. He sang The Prayer with Larisa Martinez and left the stage to then come back for a second encore with Tia Toscano to sing Time to Say Goodbye. Right when they started singing  a video of the Grand Canal in Venice appeared on the screen and the tears just flowed. That's the song from our dating days and was sung at our wedding reception. Andrea Bocelli is a big part of our dating memories because Andy was the one who introduced me to his songs and we had fun singing the duets together as I messed up all the words and didn't have a clue what they were saying but it didn't matter. Fun memories and then to have Venice staring right at me on the screen. Another place so dear to my heart I couldn't hold back the tears. We'll celebrate 19 years of marriage in a few weeks and right there, holding Andy's hand with the kids on each of our sides my heart was so full. A spritual moment for sure that God is so very aware of me and my heart. I've said it before but this year has been a year of stretching and change. Accepting God's will when it didn't line up with my plans and moving has been harder than I ever imagined in so many ways I didn't expect. It has made me stronger but it has also brought me to my knees and has had Andy holding me while I just cry. That song and the flood of memories was such a special moment that I'll never forget. The final encore was Nessun Dorma. It was a wonderful evening. Thanks to my parents for the tickets. I guess since they missed the concert we'll have to take another trip to Italy!