The Best of Opera Singer Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli is a much-loved Italian singer with a voice that is adored by millions. Best known for opera singing in his enchanting tenor voice, Andrea Bocelli has most recently produced the albums Love in Portofino and Passione.

Although to his biggest fans he needs no introduction, many of you may only have heard his singing and the man himself may still be a mystery to you. So first, let me answer some of the questions that are frequently asked about Andrea Bocelli.

Frequently Asked Questions... Answered!

Andrea Bocelli - is that the right way to spell his name?

Yes. Andrea is the Italian version of Andrew - so in Italy is very much a masculine name. He's not Andreas, Andres or Andre, although depending on where you are from that may be what your country people call him. Bocelli is spelled as seen here. It's not a name non-Italians are used to writing, so you may well see it misspelled as Bocceli, Boccelli, Bochelli or Bocielli - I've even seen people calling him everything from Bucelli to Bottecelli (maybe confused with Botticelli the painter?).

Is Andrea Bocelli blind?

Yes. Andrea Bocelli went blind during his childhood. He was diagnosed with glaucoma and entirely lost his remaining sight as a result of a soccer game accident. As he learned to cope in a world without sight, music became his life. He can open his eyes but generally sings with his eyes closed.

Where is Andrea Bocelli from?

He comes from the beautiful region of Tuscany in Italy and has spent his life there as part of a close-knit family.

Is Andrea Bocelli married?

He has been married, and had 2 children with his first wife Enrica. He now lives with his fiancée Veronica in a seaside town in northern Tuscany, close to his former wife and their children.

Click play on the video to listen to Bocelli's amazing singing while you browse the rest of the page...

If you'd like to know more about this great talent, his autobiography is the perfect place to start. Learn about his early childhood, how his life changed with the onset of blindness, and how music became his life as he lost his sight. Read his inspiring story from a small-time singer with a big voice in piano bars, to international stardom. Bocelli, telling his story in his own voice using the pseudonym of Amos (his son's name), comes across as a lovely man who has coped with adversity to become adored around the world, but still keeps his feet firmly on the ground. Incidentally, this book is no ghost-written glory for Bocelli - he is the true author of this work, which was initially written on a Braille computer. The book also includes black-and-white photographs highlighting moments of his life.

Passione is a 2013 release by Andrea Bocelli, and has been overwhelmingly popular with his legions of fans.

The 18 tracks on the deluxe edition include some beautiful Italian and Spanish-language songs. There are two Spanish duets, Quizàs, Quizàs, Quizàs with Jennifer Lopez, and Corcovado with Nelly Furtado (The Girl from Ipanema is also sung by Bocelli in Spanish). In additon, the CD features a re-recording of Edith Piaf's La Vie en Rose.

The English-language tracks include classics Love Me Tender and When I Fall in Love.

This music is not operatic, but is laid-back, blending the singer's distinctive voice with smooth and mellow sounds. The overall theme of the album is of course passion (hence the title) and romance. It makes for easy-listening and appeals to a wide range of musical tastes.

Love in Portofino is the live recording of most of these songs, from Bocelli's 2012 concert in the historic Italian town of Portofino.

Andrea singing Silent Night in English, with a choir of girls. Magical!

The CD album and accompanying DVD Andrea Bocelli, My Christmas was released in November 2009. Bocelli effortlessly blends such classics as Adeste Fidelis and O Tannenbaum with popular songs from White Christmas to Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

While his sense of fun his evident in Jingle Bells, which features The Muppets, he also teams up with Mary J. Blige to sing What Child Is This?, Natalie Cole for The Christmas Song, Reba McEntire for Blue Christmas and fellow Opera star Katherine Jenkins for I Believe.

Solo songs on this CD include White Christmas, Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard On High, Caro Gesu Bambino, Cantique De Noel and God Bless Us Everyone.

He is joined by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for The Lord's Prayer.

(There are also 7 songs on the accompanying DVD.)

With such a wide selection of Christmas favorites, there is something here for all tastes. This album is sure to become a Christmas classic for years to come.

Time to tell the truth! Have you loved him for years, or did you arrive here wondering what all the fuss is about?

Do you think Andrea Bocelli is divine? Own all his albums? Or just like one of his songs? Tell all!