“Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe” premiered on 7th September at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Even a legend like Andrea Bocelli experiences nerves onstage. In the documentary “Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Italian tenor shares his struggle with stage fright.
“I suffered from stage fright for many years. A kind of fear that can’t be put into words,” Bocelli, 65, reveals in the film. “An unmanageable anxiety. Vicious palpitations wouldn’t let go of me, even on stage. It would last the entire concert, until the final obstacle. This happened because my technique wasn’t perfect.”
A significant change for Bocelli occurred when he met Maestro Pavarotti, known as Luciano Pavarotti, and observed his work ethic. “When I first rehearsed with this great artist, I realised he didn’t struggle at all,” Bocelli says of the late operatic tenor. “Whilst I struggled a lot. That’s when I figured he had perfect technique. I didn’t. Today, thanks to the technical awareness which I have attained through a lot of effort, I don’t have that kind of anxiety anymore.”
Directed by Cosima Spender (Palio), the documentary tracks Bocelli’s journey to success and his ongoing dedication to his craft. It features interviews, archival performance footage, and informal gatherings, such as a lively party where Bocelli’s friends and family reminisce over food and wine. According to the film’s description, “When Bocelli sings, it is as though heaven has opened its gates, but watching ‘Because I Believe’ reminds us that this remarkable artist is very much rooted in the earth.”
In another part of the documentary, Bocelli discusses the soccer accident at boarding school that left him blind as a young boy. “One day, playing [soccer], I was the goalkeeper. No idea why, as I had never been the goalie before,” he recalls. “And I never would be goalie again. A ball hit me right in the face. From that blow, a haemorrhage… and the rest is history.” His brother Alberto adds, “That’s when he lost. That’s when darkness fell.”
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