ANDREA BOCELLI
THE BELOVED SINGER HELPS DRAMATIZE HIS INSPIRATIONAL LIFE STORY IN A NEW FILM
The Italian singer’s past struggles and perseverance are highlighted in his upcoming biopic.
The first time Michael Radford met blind opera legend Andrea Bocelli, “He arrived riding this huge horse, and it was walking on its back legs,” the director tells Closer. “I thought, How the hell does he do that?”
Now the Italian sensation’s millions of fans can learn how he reached such heights in The Music of Silence (due Feb. 2), directed by Il Postino Oscar nominee Radford and starring Game of Thrones’ Toby Sebastian as Andrea. “He’s been massively challenged his whole life, and that pain comes through when he sings,” says Toby, who spent five days with Andrea and his family at their home before shooting. “He had a hard time and came through it stronger than ever.”
Andrea, 59, was born with poor eyesight due to glaucoma, then lost it after a soccer accident when he was 12. He never let his disability stop him from pursuing his musical dreams. “The fact that I am blind is not what defines my life,” he says. “It should be of no more interest than my blood type.”
Along with opera, his passions include sons Amos and Matteo, 22 and 20, respectively, and daughter Virginia, 5, from his second marriage, to manager Veronica Berti. “They’re utterly in love,” says Toby. “She’s remarkable, and they’re a formidable team.”
Having conquered music, books and film (Silence, which Andrea cowrote based on his autobiography, was a huge hit in Italy), what does he have left to achieve? “I don’t know,” laughs Radford of his fearless pal. “But if nobody’s ever jumped naked out of an airplane, Andrea’s surely going to do it!” — Bruce Fretts
“Ever since I was a child, I’ve always known I was born to sing.” — Andrea