‘I would give up my voice for world peace’: Bocelli
World-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli shares a message of peace and unity at a press conference before his concert in Türkiye’s Istanbul next summer
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, known as “Maestro,” expressed his belief in the power of music to promote global peace at a press conference attended by Türkiye Today’s Pırıl Cennet and Kevser Erbay. He emphasized that war is entirely a consequence of human failure.
Bocelli is set to perform in Istanbul on June 8, 2024, at the BWO Entertainment and CEO Event.
Bocelli addressed questions regarding his upcoming “30th Anniversary Concert” at Besiktas Tupras Stadium at the press conference held in Feriye Palace.
“Music speaks to the soul, affecting the spirit. I would gladly renounce my voice if it meant fostering a world of peace. War is the ultimate folly, a stain on humanity,” Bocelli said, emphasizing that music, however, has the power to unite us, fostering dialogue and understanding between people.
“We believe in the unity of God. Everyone worships for themselves. What we are doing in the world is very painful. While we live by our own religious beliefs, we must have respect for the belief of others,” he added.
Bocelli stated that performing a concert in the stadium brought another level of excitement.
“It is a pleasure to perform in front of such a large audience. Music has some unknowns. Of course, it is not easy to fully evaluate the acoustics in the stadiums,” Maestro stated.
Bocelli stated that his voice was a gift from God, but he made great efforts to protect and improve it.
“I do whatever is needed to maintain my vocal and musical fitness, I’m thrilled to be in Istanbul. Words fail to capture the excitement this vibrant city evokes. Its essence is too profound for a brief description. I feel incredibly fortunate to be here. The energy is unlike anything I’ve experienced, and it resonates deeply with the audience as well. Taking the stage after 30 years still fills me with wonder. Cultural differences in your country exist, yet art and music bridge these gaps beautifully,” he said.
Andrea Bocelli (C-L) attends a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Nov. 4, 2023. (Photo by Kevser Erbay)
‘Art and music to save world’
Veronica Berti Bocelli, Maestro’s wife, talked about the work of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and said that they use music as a tool to reach people in need.
“Andrea always says that art and music will save the world. With our foundation, we are doing charity work around the world. We have been active in the reconstruction of schools. We have emphasized music in the schools we have opened. We invest especially in children because children are our future,” Veronica Berti Bocelli said.
Elena Clemente, consul general of Italy in Istanbul, stated that she had been listening to Bocelli with excitement since she was a little girl that Bocelli represented the magnificent aspects of Italy, and that she was looking forward to the concert.
Andrea Bocelli, who has broken attendance records with his concerts, attended by tens of thousands of people in many countries, has also achieved many firsts in his artistic life.
Nominated for the Grammy Award six times and the Latin Grammy Award six times throughout his career, Bocelli also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2013 and 2016, Bocelli was the only artist to participate in the prestigious National Prayer Breakfast event attended by United States President Barack Obama and many heads of state from around the world. On Dec. 11, 2017, he was invited to the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in New York and became the initiator of the famous “bell ringing” ritual that started to be traded on stock exchanges around the world.
His album “Si,” released in more than 60 countries in 2018, was a historic success, topping the U.S. and the United Kingdom charts for a long time.
Bocelli was honored by the Republic of Italy with the title of “Grand Knight of the Republic of Italy” and received the title of “Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to San Marino.”
Source: Newsroom
