For more than three decades, Andrea Bocelli has captivated audiences with his soaring voice. But beyond the concert halls, the acclaimed singer is just as passionate about quiet family life.
In a new documentary, Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe (in theaters September 21), fans will get to see him not just as an artist, but as a husband, father and friend. His remarkable talent has found him chatting up everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Pope Francis, but the film makes it clear he’s happiest goofing around with childhood friends or playing chess.
Married to his wife, Veronica Berti, since 2014 and together for over two decades, Bocelli, 66, credits their enduring bond to curiosity. “There’s a basic recipe to make matrimony work,” Bocelli tells Us. “We are willing to get to know each other, to understand each other and then to find a compromise. Luckily, we have this strong chemistry as a foundation. We also need fantasy [and] to have a lot of imagination so that you can renew the relationship … [and it] never gets boring.”
The classical artist, who is blind, recently spoke with Us via a translator about his pride in his children and where his love for life comes from. One thing he’s not doing? Slowing down. “Honestly, I’ve never felt old!” he says. “I ride my bike, I do all the water sports, same as I did when I was 30. There’s no indication I’m getting old.”
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What’s your favorite thing to do with your 13-year-old daughter, Virginia?
The most important thing is just to talk. She is [at] a very delicate age — switching from a child to a teenager, and this entails many problems, made worse by social media, which [is] very dangerous. We have to speak and listen to our children.
In the documentary, viewers see you ride horses. What do you love about the hobby?
The thing I loved the most is the challenge. I could ride a rather agitated wild horse when I [was] young. And now that many years have gone by, I want to ride well-trained horses!
It’s obvious you have such a great zest and love for life. Where does that come from?
I was raised in [a] family within which I felt very much loved and understood. I’m still so curious [about] everything that happened to me and everything that is around me.
You’ve spoken about people discouraging you when you were growing up. Tell Us about a formative ‘no’ for you.
I’ve always been a very competitive person. When I play chess, in everything I do, I never love when I lose. However … all the nos I received gave me the push to do everything I wouldn’t have done otherwise.
What do you think when you look back at your childhood performances?
After everything I have learned, if I listen to myself when I was young, I [would] say that I wasn’t really good. I wouldn’t be very [impressed] nowadays!
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Your son Matteo is building a music career. Do you give him singing advice?
I try to teach him everything I have learned over the years. It has been a very long and tough path for me. We live in a very fast-paced world and we don’t have all the time we used to have when we were young. I try to convey all my knowledge to Matteo. Other people tell me that his voice really resembles my voice. I give him some tips and it gets easier. I hope [he] will listen to my tips!
Matteo sang at the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez this summer. Did you consider joining him for that event?
I was really honored they contacted Matteo. As a parent, I am extremely pleased. It would be strange if I [wasn’t] so happy about this!
You often perform in front of VIPs and huge crowds. Tell Us how you deal with stress and nerves.
You can tell yourself, “I’ve done everything I could have done to be at [my] best. … All the rest that I cannot control is in God’s hands.”
You’re very close to your childhood friends. What have they taught you?
I’m very much attached [to] my country, to my town and all the people that have been with me since the very beginning. My childhood friends are still my friends today. They have taught me a lot. They have given me a lot as well, in terms of friendship [and] of serenity and happiness. You can’t live alone. The beauty of life is also made of the harmony that you find with the world around you.
