Andrea Bocelli’s sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday (Sept. 15) had many musical highlights. It was a very big show, with a very large orchestra and a large cast of supporting singers and dancers. It also had some issues — which are easily correctable, if Bocelli is willing.
The show opened with a video which was basically a slick commercial touting Bocelli. It was unnecessary (we know he’s great, that’s why we’re here) and seemed self-congratulatory. Bocelli rarely spoke to the audience, perhaps because of insecurities about what he called his “terrible English” when he finally did speak at length, near the end of the show. His English wasn’t terrible at all, but his silence through most of the show had created a distance between him and the audience.
Bocelli didn’t introduce any of his talented singers, who sang lead parts when he was offstage, or his four dancers. Their names appeared on video screens on either side of the stage at the end of the show, as basically a credit roll for the production. It’s fine to do that, but it doesn’t excuse Bocelli for not having introduced, in the moment, people who were doing so much to help carry his show.
So I’ll give them their due here up front: Aida Garifullina sang soprano, Edward Parks sang bass, Rusanda Panfili played violin. Pia Toscano served as a pop singer on several numbers. Francesco Costa, Angelica Gismondo, Brittany O’Connor and Paul Barris were dancers who brought touches of ballet to several numbers.
Bocelli did mention conductor Steven Mercurio and a few big-name guest stars who joined him for this engagement: Jennifer Hudson, Diane Warren and David Foster.
Bocelli’s current tour is celebrating the upcoming 30th anniversary of Romanza, the 1997 compilation that kick-started his career and remains one of the best-selling contemporary classical albums of all time. The Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour is produced by AEG Presents.
Here are six highlights from Bocelli’s sold-out show, the first of two nights at the Hollywood Bowl.
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Opening with the classics
Bocelli opened with nine consecutive pieces from classic operas, mostly from the 19th Century, by such composers as Giuseppe Verdi, Charles Gounod and Giacomo Puccini. They were mostly very famous classical pieces. Even so, this gave the audience credit for being able to go that long without a pop hit.
That classical stretch was followed by an eight-minute medley of songs from West Side Story, featuring the orchestra, choir and four dancers. This gave Bocelli a chance to leave the stage and take a break, and the audience a chance to hear songs from the glorious score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, including “I Feel Pretty,” “Maria” and “Tonight.”
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The “Spaghetti Western Medley”
Violinist Rusanda Panfili had a chance to shine on what the set list refers to as the “Spaghetti Western Medley,” including Ennio Morricone’s classic theme from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. The segment, while Bocelli was offstage, was unexpected and entertaining.
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The piano segment
A video in which Bocelli explained why the piano means so much to him led into a two-song segment where Bocelli played piano on two songs from Romanza – the title song and “Il Mare Calmo Della Sera.” Pia Toscano was also featured on these songs.
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Some special guests
The most star-studded segment of the show came near the end, when Jennifer Hudson teamed with Bocelli on two songs – “One Right Here” from the upcoming film Maserati: The Brothers, and “The Prayer,” with Hudson taking Celine Dion’s part on that Oscar-nominated 1998 ballad. (Dion and Bocelli received a Grammy nod for best pop collaboration with vocals for their performance.)
Diane Warren played piano on her song “One Right Here.” David Foster played piano on “The Prayer,” which he co-wrote with Carole Bayer Sager, Tony Renis and Alberto Testa for the film Quest for Camelot. Foster also stayed around to play piano on “All by Myself,” which Toscano sang (very much in the style of Dion’s 1996, Foster-produced rendition) while Bocelli was offstage.
Bocelli and Foster have worked together many times, but this marked the first time Bocelli has teamed with Warren.
Bocelli and Hudson first performed together on Sept. 13, 2025, at the Grace for the World concert in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. They may very well perform together again on March 14, 2027, the night of the 99th Oscars, if “One Right Here” is nominated for best original song. The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre, which is just about a mile from the Hollywood Bowl.
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Promoting ‘Romanza’
The show included five tracks (plus a medley) from the 1997 compilation which was Bocelli’s first album to enter the Billboard 200. It remained on Billboard’s flagship chart for 91 weeks, longer than any of his other albums. (He also logged a year or more on the chart with Sogno, Aria – The Opera Album, Amore and My Christmas.
The show opened with a video commercial for Romanza—30th Anniversary, which is available now for pre-order at Bocelli’s official store.
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Finally, he speaks
When Bocelli finally addressed the audience, he said, in part, “I arrived here at the Bowl many years ago. My hair was much more black and longer. You’re still here with me and I’m very grateful. In my terrible English, L.A., you can hear and listen to the best shows and you’re here for my voice. Thank you very much.”
See, that wasn’t so hard. More of that, please.
