About 16,000 people poured in to the Amalie Arena on one of the most romantic days of the year, Valentine’s Day.
The ambiance was very serene and classy, fit for the perfect lovely date. Couples and families of all ages were in attendance to experience the powerhouse of Andrea Bocelli. A voice and an event that could be a bucket list experience for many, as the Italian native doesn’t really seem to do as many shows.
You could hear the crowd speaking of the pricey tickets they invested in and how excited they were to be transported to Italy with the romance that is Bocelli. Not only were we experiencing Andrea Bocelli, but we would experience the likes of Nadine Sierra singing in Soprano; Caroline Campbell as they exquisite violinist and a very special guest, Kristin Chenoweth.
In attendance were the Bella Musica Orchestra of Florida and the Opera Tampa Chorus on stage, performing with Andrea Bocelli. Can you imagine the honor to be able to say, ‘I shared a stage with none other than the incomparable, Andrea Bocelli. There were quite a few performances where it would be just the band and then Bocelli would appear on the stage again. It wasn’t pure Bocelli on stage the entire night, but it was a good mix of operas and Broadway hits to entertain those who decided to spend their Valentine’s at the Amalie Arena.
To add a little sunshine, came Kristin Chenoweth who entertained us with ‘The Girl in 14G’ and spoke of her experience withe the delicious fast food chain, Pollo Tropical. Sadly, this event could not have happened at a worst time… A time where 17 innocent lives were lost in Broward County due to a school shooting. Chenoweth honored those affected by this senseless tragedy by singing, ‘Bring Him Home’ from Les Miserables.
To conclude the show, both powerhouses came together to sing one of Bocelli’s most well-known hits, ‘The Prayer’. He then sang one of the sings most well-suited for the day known for lovers, ‘Besame Mucho’; along with an English/Italian version of ‘Time To Say Goodbye’ with Sorpano singer, Nadine Sierra. What better way to close out a romantic night than with Puccini’s ‘Nessun dorma… O Sole, Vita’.