Customer Ratings & Reviews

Like many Italian recording artists, Andrea Bocelli's led a dual life in recording Spanish and Italian albums simultaneously. Lo Mejor De Andrea Bocelli collects thirteen of his Spanish (and two Italian and one English) versions featured on albums Sueno (Canto De La Tierra, The Prayer, O Mare e Tu with Portuguese fadista Dulce Pontes), Romanza (Por Ti Volare, a new recording of Vivere, Romanza, Vivo Por Ella with Marta Sanchez, El Silencio de la Espera), Amor (Besame Mucho), Cieli Di Toscana (Un Dulce Melodrama, Mil Lunas, Mil Olas, better known as the "Barilla pasta song," and featured as a bonus track on the deluxe English edition of Best of Andrea Bocelli). There are several brand-new tracks, including Io Ce Saro, A Ti, La Voz Del Silencio and Hermosas Estrellas that hold up well next to his established classics. One song that's noticeably absent is Bocelli's breakout duet with Sarah Brightman, Time To Say Goodbye. Brightman discovered Andrea through his Italian-language debut CD in 1996 and chose him as a duet partner, so she should receive credit for introducing him to an international audience. It's a shame that it's been omitted, since it is one of his most beautiful duets (however, the solo version Por Ti Volare is featured). Celine Dion's The Prayer has been retained, as have several Spanish-language duets with Laura Pausini on Vive Ya, a haunting Portuguese duet with Dulce Pontes on O Mare E Tu, and a powerhouse duet with Marta Sanchez on Vivo Por Ella. On to Bocelli's voice: either you'll love it, or as a classical purist, you'll hate it. Critics have long complained that Bocelli suffers from poor phrasing, uneven tone, and lack of technique (to be fair, Bocelli studied for a law degree, not a music degree, although he took a master class with tenor Franco Corelli). As a casual classical and opera fan, I feel he is amply capable of taking lyrical songs and imbuing them with emotion and passion without coming off as amateurish. Have I heard better tenors? Absolutely. But Bocelli is a captivating presence, and his choice of songs (and instrumental backings) come together magically to create enduring romantic classics. I frequently make use of Signor Bocelli's best-of CD as background music for dinner parties, and it's a lovely accompaniment to quiet evenings. There are several good songs not included on the English best-of such as O Mare E Tu that are well worth the price, and this is a good overview of Bocelli's work from 1996 to present.