by Pat

I've listened and read a bunch of reports on SOL - and waited until I could gather my thoughts (and find the two remaining neurons that still approach one another...). Here are my thoughts and feelings about that magical night...I was never supposed to go to New Jersey. I am so busy at work and so poor right now, I can barely find five hours a night to sleep, much less take 5 days off to drive to NJ to hear AB sing. But as the concert approached, I saw that picture from Aria pasted overlooking New York harbor, and I realized how important this particular concert would be. This man who was hurting so much needed his fans to be there, and it would be another historic performance, like Werther last fall. I suspected it would be less than perfect, less than beautiful. I remember too well how hard it was to be with friends after my own dad's death in 1994. I remember being amazed at the person I observed going through life - was this me? I remember the unending and aching sadness - it just went on and on - and I knew life goes on, that I had to move along, but the grief had it's own life to live...nothing I did to try to end it in MY time frame was successful. We all have our brave moments. I think this is one of the reasons we can love AB so much - he shares his life so openly with us all that he reminds us of our better sides. He is a good father and son. This time on the shore of the big river would be a trial - requiring bravery and a willingness to risk and extend himself - all at a time in his life when his resources would be pretty low. How would he handle himself?

We got to the stage area, and it was BEAUTIFUL. You know how there is a period of an hour or so just before sunset when the sky gets sort of yellowy pink and the wind dies down and the birds sing their soft evening songs before they settle down for the night? Well this was actually happening around this stage. And there, right across the river, was this enormous cityscape rising out of the far shore. On the river a few tall ships (well maybe some of the shorter versions - semi-tall) were sailing slowly upriver for the night. And there was a tremendous charge in the atmosphere - expectation, veiled excitement, anticipation. Steven Mercurio was talking with the front row folks when we walked into the seating area. I walked down to talk with him and collected an autograph. He was very kind to us, and very friendly. Steven warned us that AB was NOT wanting to do "Nessun dorma" this night. He left to get dressed for the concert. I found my seat.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performed a beautiful Moldau (to which I personally resonate, as it NEVER fails to evoke memories of my Russian great grandparents!) Looking over at the towers of Ellis Island gleaming gold in that pinky sunset sky just brought tears to me as i remembered them as if I were 10 again and they were showing me how to grow hydrangeas from slips in their backyard in Annapolis...I had forgotten how much I miss them! Andrea's vocal tightness was apparent in the first selection - "La donna è mobile," where he totally lost the final note and cracked me up laughing. But he settled down, smiled with Steven, and came back with a strong performance of "Di quella pira." I love this piece, which I first heard him sing in Houston this spring and which I have been waiting to hear seemingly forever! It is AWESOME in its power! I had never heard the "Brindisi" from Cavalleria Rusticana live, and I remember wondering as I listened if Sandro had liked it. It is a kind of soap-opera-ish song, and I couldn't help but smile to myself as I thought of Sandro and Edy laughing over the lyrics together...many of the crowd around me thought they were gonna hear a different "Brindisi."

Steven led the NJSO in Mascagni's "Intermezzo," which I will now never hear without thinking of Steven Mercurio. This gorgeous and emotional piece of music will forever be tied for me to Steven's arrangement for the "Ave Maria." I softly whispered the words as we sat transfixed by the beauty of the setting and the sound. Here the concert diverted from it's program plan - and I'll defer to better memories than mine as to the order of the songs. Ana Maria Martinez also seemed a little tense at first, although to my ears she warmed up quickly and performed solidly. It was not her very best night IMHO, but it was certainly a most acceptable performance. Her "Un bel di" was terrific! Bocelli's "La Danza" seemed to me to lack the sparkle it often has when he is "on." Their "O soave fanciulla" was very well done, although again, I was struck by a sort of distance within the performance, as though they weren't quite connecting emotionally - perhaps this was me and my reverie rather than their performances. "Vaghissima Sembianza" was new to me - I had never heard Andrea do this one before. I LOVE this music so much - it is touching emotionally and very beautiful in its clear, high notes. I would LOVE to hear this recorded! I think it was during this piece that I began to notice that Bocelli was giving us a very soft sounding concert this night - his notes were very clear and unforced (after the beginning problem with "La donna...") and he was seeming to follow Pavarotti's advice to always sing softly. This allows him to vary the intensity of his notes most beautifully - perhaps more so than anyone I have heard before - and they wander off to the horizon and come back strong at his will. Steven could NOT convince him to do the "Nessun dorma" - and perhaps it was just as well - it didn't seem to fit the mood of the concert anyway - there was a sort of sad undertone to the music - this kept "La Danza" sort of subdued and reminded me of the proximity of his loss.

Zdenek Macal led his orchestra in Bernstein's On the Waterfront, which I found strangely touching and instantly and immediately perfect for the time of evening and the setting. It was the PERFECT piece of music to be playing at that moment! Macal really connected with his musicians and they gave as fine a performance of this piece as I have heard before. It was at this moment in the concert that I had what I consider to be one of the very finest musical experiences of my life. Bocelli and the chorus delivered the very best performance of "Santa Lucia luntana" that I have heard anyone give anywhere in any form. Touching and sweet, pianissimo, perfectly clear and in proportion, this was a performance to remember. I am SO VERY GLAD to have this on video. For my money this song alone was worth the price of admission! He followed it with a "Core 'ngrato" that made the guy on my left weep. It was lovely, and again I was so happy to have made the sacrifice to get to this concert! Steven's Mercurial Overture, written for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, came next. I really like this piece of music! I hope that Steven will record it at some point, because I would like to study it further - it is complex and has some really interesting sections, but because I don't know it well, I really feel the need to hear it a few more times. Ana Maria did "Violettas Imperiales" beautifully, as usual, and she and Steven did their little dance steps I love so much - several folks had begged Steven before the concert to do this and I am glad that she consented. I remember thinking that it might have been a pretty big concession for Ana Maria, since this was a big exposure for her - PBS and all.

I won't comment on Sarah Brightman's performance except to say that the crowd loved her - they were completely quiet for the first time all evening - and her stage presence has a lot to do with that, I think. She has this bewitching unpredictability about her (although this is seemingly never born out) that captured these folks completely. I liked the music she chose and am glad I got to hear her in person. "Torna a Sorriento" and "O Sole Mio" were crowd pleasing. The attempt to get the crowd to sing "O Sole Mio" was sort of flat - most of them didn't know the words and were VERY startled at being asked to sing...and suddenly it was OVER. The crowd wanted encores. They expected them. They got one. And a short speech which touched them with it's sadness. They stomped the metal floor. Bocelli returned and bowed. They stomped some more. He came back with Ana Maria and bowed again. They stomped and stomped and stomped. The lights came up, the orchestra stood and packed up, and the audience was left, still stomping, startled...

It was a strange night for me. Finding our way back to the car became surreal in its slowness.