Tough talks sealed Bocelli concert

World-renowned singer Andrea Bocelli has kept his word to The Times that he would "surely come to Malta"...

More than one year on, tickets for the highly anticipated concert on December 16 - "a milestone in the island's classical music calendar" - are out on sale from today, after the organisers, Renaissance Productions Ltd, successfully concluded year-long negotiations to bring over the top-class tenor.

It was with pride and satisfaction that RPL directors, Anton Tabone and Amabile Zammit, yesterday launched the two-hour concert that is being held at the Malta Convention Centre in Ta' Qali.

Negotiations with Bocelli's management started last year, when the company took a group of Maltese to watch the star perform in Taormina and realised how appealing he was to the locals, who numbered almost 400 on the trip, with minimal publicity.

But at the time, the costs to bring over one of the highest paid artistes in the music world were prohibitive, Dr Tabone said. Negotiations were not easy.

Among the conditions of his contract, Bocelli only flies on private jets to the venues he is performing in, and Tumas Group chairman George Fenech has, therefore, made his Eurojet available to bring the singer to Malta the day before the concert and fly him back the night of the show.

Tickets for the concert cost Lm20, Lm35 and Lm50, while a number are being sold at Lm100, which include front-row seats, reserved parking and a dinner at Hilton Malta in the presence of the star.

In keeping with RPL's aim to not only attract international artistes but also to rope in and integrate local talent, Bocelli is being accompanied by Maltese soprano Lydia Caruana on a number of arias, and the National Orchestra, while a "surprise" with a local element - possibly the participation of a Maltese baritone - is also in store.

Bocelli, who has sold over 60 million records, is also being accompanied by his personal five-piece band, while the orchestra is being directed by one of his personal conductors - the man who taught him how to play the piano - Mro Carlo Bernini, who is also his artistic director.

"I have travelled the world with Andrea, but we have never been to Malta. He is very enthusiastic to be promoting his music in a place he has not yet visited," Mro Bernini said.

It would be the second time that the venue - the Malta Convention Centre, which can cater for a 10,000-strong audience - is being used. But RPL are expecting an audience of around 7,000.

RPL is also expecting to attract foreigners, promoting Malta as a venue for live concerts by highly acclaimed artistes. The Malta Tourism Authority has been given 1,000 tickets and will be using its marketing tools to sell them to foreigners through tour operators.

The event could serve to boost a lean period of tourism, Dr Tabone pointed out.

The concert was expected to appeal to a wide-ranging audience, varying in age and musical preferences, Bocelli being renowned for ably crossing borders between classical and popular music. In fact, the concert is being divided into two: The first part being totally dedicated to classical music; and the second, more popular and lighter, with pieces from his latest CD. "That was one of the sticking points in the negotiations with the management," Mr Tabone said, explaining that it was important that Bocelli's Malta repertoire would be varied and would have a popular aspect too.

Partnering RPL to make the event possible are HSBC Bank, Malta International Airport, the Maltacom Group and Hilton Malta, while other sponsors include Coca-Cola, the MTA, Diamonds International and Air Malta.

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 8 p.m., can be purchased from www.maltatickets.com, Maltapost branches in Malta and Gozo or Exotique outlets, while the VIP Lm100 tickets are available from Diamonds International in Valletta and Luxe Pavillion, Portomaso.