It’s been 30 years since Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli released “Bocelli,” his second album, but the first to include English and pop songs, including his version of Jennifer Rush’s “The Power of Love.”
It was a significant step towards making him an international sensation, achieving a crossover for operatic and classical music that has allowed him to perform in arenas and stadiums worldwide.
“In some ways, it feels like it was only yesterday,” Bocelli, 67, says via a translator, “perhaps because I have never really stopped since then. I was able to fulfill my dream of turning my greatest passion into a profession.” And while he feels that “after a certain age I think it is more elegant not to dwell too much on the passing of time,” Bocelli acknowledges the resonance of what he calls “professional anniversaries.”
“When I think back to my first recordings — the ‘Bocelli’ and ‘Romanza’ albums, my international calling cards — I find myself happily celebrating not only my career, but life itself — that extraordinary gift which, for each of us, is a privilege to receive, just as it has been a profound privilege, for me to represent, through my voice, a small part of the soundtrack of so many people’s life around the world.”
Andrea Bocelli will perform Dec. 7 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. (Photo courtesy of Luca Rossetti)
In addition to his recorded works — including last year’s “Duets,” compiling collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Celine Dione, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain and many more — Bocelli has also received an international array of awards, from a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He’s won BRIT Awards in England and been nominated for Grammys, and was joined by children Matteo and Virginia Bocelli for 2022’s “A Family Christmas” album and an accompanying television special.
As for his mission of bringing opera to the contemporary masses, Bocelli says, “I have tried to do my part. I believe that, over the past few decades, things have indeed changed — for the better. Still, I think there is room for further improvement if we want to do justice to an art form that was born with a genuine popular vocation.
“It is essential that everyone feel free to approach opera without intimidation. My presence in the pop world has proven priceless over the years, because it has allowed me to introduce audiences to the great masterpiece of opera. By broadening the horizon in this way, listeners can truly choose what speaks to them.”
Bocelli will also be watching next year’s international football (soccer) World Cup in the United States. A longtime supporter of Inter Milan in Italy, he went blind after sustaining an injury while goalkeeping when he was 12. He nevertheless retains a passion for the sport, although he demurs from predicting a winner.
“Let’s just say I will be rooting for the game itself (and) for fair play,” he says. “The beauty of the World Championship, as with great operas, lies in the fact that its ending is never predictable. … I will simply enjoy the show, hoping that talent and integrity prevail.”
Andrea Bocelli performs at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
• Trumpeter Terence Blanchard is joined by his E-Collective Band and the Turtle Island Quartet for a performance of the “Malcolm X Jazz Suite” at 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. A Civic Jazz Live! performance precedes it at 7 p.m. in The Cube. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
Terence Blanchard (Photo courtesy of Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
• Massachusetts’ PVRIS headlines at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Dua Saleh opens. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ ex-wife, tells stories at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• Corey B brings his A game to Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Country singer Drake White headlines at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. The Woods also performs. district142live.com.
• The Supersuckers will play some big rock at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Scott H. Biram and King Sickabilly also perform. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Country singer-songwriter Audrey Ray celebrates a new album release on vinyl at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Saxophonist Marcus Elliot and Broken Seeds Vol. II perform through Sunday, Dec. 7 at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Gud Band is in the house through Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The duo Bluhm is at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Elephant Den and Johnstonsons also perform. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Recycled Percussion engages in some “Hijinx!” at 7:30 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.
• Eliminate presides over the dance party at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Something Different tops a six-band bill in the Vernors Room at the Crofoot complex, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 8 p.m. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.
• Ryan O’Neill, Shade Zero and Sara Nofs triple-up at 9 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• Oakland County music photographers Sue Plummer and Tom Weschler will exhibit their works at 7 p.m. at Edo Ramen House, 4313 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak. The Dirk Kroll Band will perform, as well. 248-556-5775 or edo-lounge.com.
• The Firewalkers rock at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Troubadours Christopher Mark Jones and Mike Gentry team up at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The Tom Petty tribute band The Insiders will be runnin’ down a dream at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• The Token Lounge goes tribute crazy with Creedence (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and Dire Daze at 7:30 p.m. and then Shattered (the Rolling Stones) and Tall Cool One (Led Zeppelin) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Another Led Zeppelin tribute, Zoso, rocks at 8 p.m. at the Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. 248-309-6445 or flagstarstrand.com.
• The Diesel Concert Lounge goes for the grunge with Forever Foo (Foo Fighters tribute) and Stone Temple Echoes (Stone Temple Pilots). 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• On the Emerald Theatre’s tribute docket this weekend is Don Jovi (Bon Jovi), and on Saturday. Dec. 6, Night Fever (the Bee Gees). 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens. Doors at 7 p.m. for both. 586-630-0120 or theemeraldtheatre.com.
• Former Carolina Chocolate Drop Dom Flemons drops in at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Bassist Endea Owens & the Cookout sizzles through Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Billy Strings streams at 7:30 p.m. from Louisville, and again on Saturday. Dec. 6, via nugs.net.
• Virtual: The Mavericks’ Dance the Night Away concert from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville streams at 9 p.m. and again on Saturday, Dec. 6, both via nugs.net.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
• Conductor/violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider is featured as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs “Romantic Era Masterworks: Bruch & Brahms” at 8 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Saturday’s show will be livestreamed free as part of the “Live From Orchestra Hall” series. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• The DSO also offers the family holiday concert “Winter Wonderland” at 11 a.m. in Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• Pop violinist Damien Escobar does the strings thing at 8 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
Damien Escobar (Photo courtesy of MotorCity Casino Hotel)
• Lansing’s Hot Mulligan plays Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 4 p.m. for both 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.
• The New Jersey indie rock quartet the Happy Fits will be glad to be at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Punk rocker J. Robbins plays music from his band Burning Airplanes at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 84 Tigers and Her Heads on Fire also perform. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Joe Reilly and the All Nations Dancers offer a 2 p.m. matinee at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-7900 or dia.org.
• Trumpeter Kris Johnson leads his ensemble in a family-friendly performance at 10 a.m. in The Cube at the Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• Darude mans the decks at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• DJ Holographic plays open to close at TV Lounge, 2548 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. paxahau.com.
• The National Arab Orchestra performs “East Meets West: Christmas in the Holy Land” at 8 p.m. at Music Hall Center, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit. 313-887-8500 or musichall.org.
• Arkansas singer and songwriter Jed Harrelson brings his stories to El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Long Square celebrates the release of a new album, “Even a Single Lumen,” at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Twin Freaks and In a Daydream are also on the bill. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Music and comedy rule at the Italian Festival in December at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• Dave Boutette and Kristi Lynn Davis present their annual holiday show at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. Neil Donato opens. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The annual Rock 4 Tots holiday benefit for Goodfellows’ No Child Without a Christmas drive features two dozen bands starting at noon at Freddy’s Bar & Grill, 40000 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-416-7777 or freddysbarrocks.com.
• Laushaun Phoenix Moore is joined by nine other performers and storytellers for Jingle Jam: Joy For All at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Detroit indie rock quintet Moravian, Feeding Grizzlies and Custodians team up at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• The Kris Kurzawa Group plays Santana at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• The RFD Boys are home after the holiday at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and UMS Choral Union team for performances of Handel’s “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Hill Auditorium, 825 North University Ave., Ann Arbor. 734-764-2538 or ums.org.
• Virtual: Octave Cat jams at 8 p.m. from Ardmore, Pennsylvania, streaming via nugs.net.
• Virtual: Matisyahu livestreams at 8 p.m. from Port Chester, New York, via nugs.net.
• Virtual: Erykah Badu performs her album “Mama’s Gun” at 9 p.m. live from New York, streaming via veeps.com.
SUNDAY, DEC. 7
• Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, Ruben Studdard and Ilya Serov bring “Home for the Holidays” to Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
“Home For the Holidays” (Poster courtesy of MotorCity Casino Hotel)
• San Diego’s Cattle Decapitation stampedes into Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• The Macomb Symphony Orchestra presents a Holiday Pops Extravaganza at 3 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.
• Grammy Award-nominated British singer-songwriter Hayla brings her electronic pop to El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
Hayla (Photo courtesy of Daniel Mutton)
• Toronto’s Anti-Queens cross the border to play at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Choking Susan and Moronic Device support. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Psych-Frame, Rev3rent, Donnie Brasco and Splinters usher the weekend out, loudly at 7 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin is joined by Friends such as “American Idol” winner Kris Allen, Broadway’s Morgan James and David Davis for a “Home For the Holidays” show at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Vocalist Stella Cole does some “Christmas Dreaming” at 6 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: K-pop favorite Monsta X’s “Connect X” concert film screens again for one day only. monstax-incinemas.com for tickets and theater locations.
• Virtual: The Nth Power streams its Sept. 20 concert in New Orleans at 8 p.m., via nugs.net.
