CD, стоящие на полке рядом : Classics Vocal (Man Voice)      

In Cieli di Toscana tenor Andrea Bocelli pays tribute to his Tuscan heritage through performances of a number of romantic Italian-language songs, old and new, which relate to the northern Italian region associated with high-quality olive oil and unspoiled, pristine coastline. As such, Cieli di Toscana proves a sort of Tuscan counterpart to Bocelli's album of Neapolitan standards, Sentimento. While powerhouse producer Caterina Caselli Sugar's arrangements are dated - they smack of the Europop sound of the 1980s - Bocelli's voice has such a warm and lovable personality that it is impossible for him to rub the listener the wrong way. In these relatively simple songs, Bocelli draws on his operatic skills as a singer only very sparingly, applying vibrato to notes when he is in need of more power or a more secure sense of pitch. Most of Cieli di Toscana is done in a pure, "pop" voice that's as clear and unpretentious as the olive oil produced by the region of which he is singing, and it is a joy to hear. Cieli di Toscana (in English, Skies of Tuscany) was a sales blockbuster in the E.U. upon its release in 2001, moving millions of units in only a few weeks and occupying the top spot on charts worldwide. The album is not a natural fit for American audiences, but it got a boost nonetheless in the United States through the appearance of the song Mille Lune Mille Onde in the background of a television commercial. Of the popular albums that Bocelli has recorded, this one is probably the best so far, and certainly the one which is most accessible to American listeners.

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Dim the lights and uncork the wine. The avatar of romance Italian-style, is back. After devoting himself for a time to his operatic aspirations, Andrea Bocelli returns to the milieu where he achieved international stardom. CIELI DI TOSCANA harks back to ROMANZA, his breakthrough 1997 release that captivated a multitude of admirers, and picks up where his last pop album, SOGNO, left off. The album captures the warm-voiced tenor at what he does best: professing the joys and sorrows of love through his heartfelt renditions of lush, ultra-romantic ballads.

Bocelli hews to the winning formula of the earlier discs, relying once again on the songwriting skills of Francesco Sartori and David Foster, among others, for the soaring, dramatic tunes that are his stock in trade. Sumptuously produced songs such as "Mille Lune Mille Onde," "Chiara," and "Mascagni" are evocative soundscapes of Bocelli's cherished Tuscan homeland, tailor-made vehicles for the singer's romantic vocal stylings. Other notable tracks include "L'Abitudine," partnering the tenor with newcomer Helena for the obligatory love duet, and "L'Incontro," featuring Bono in the recitation of a poem written by Bocelli. CIELI DI TOSCANA has the hallmarks of another crowd-pleasing effort by this enormously popular artist.

All Music Guide