Believe

Believe follows Andrea Bocelli's record-breaking 'Music for Hope' performance at Easter from the historic Duomo cathedral in Milan which was watched live by millions around the globe. The new album also features two duets with leading opera singer Cecilia Bartoli, a previously unreleased track from the late, great Italian composer Ennio Morricone, as well as 'Gratia Plena' - the closing song from the critically acclaimed new movie, Fatima.

The themes explored in this new recording are deeply personal to Bocelli, who says, "The concept behind 'Believe' is based on three words: faith, hope and charity. These are the three theological virtues of Christianity, yet - quite independently of any religious belief - they are also the three extraordinary keys to giving meaning and completeness to the lives of every one of us."

Adding her distinctive vocals to 'Amazing Grace' is 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, one of the most important artists in the American country-bluegrass tradition. Describing her collaboration with Bocelli, Krauss commented: "What an amazing experience! Fantastically terrifying!"

Believe, co-produced by Steven Mercurio and Haydn Bendall, is a collection of uplifting songs that have inspired and sustained Bocelli over the years. In addition to the duets with Krauss and Bartoli - two singers whose distinctive voices are celebrated around the world - there is a new composition from Ennio Morricone, a long-time collaborator of Bocelli's, titled 'Inno sussurato' ('Whispered Hymn'). There are also familiar favourites on the album, such as 'Hallelujah' and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.

Bocelli has composed his own settings of 'Ave Maria' and 'Padre Nostro' specially for this record. He says, "I don't consider myself to be a composer, however, I am a musician, and sometimes melodies come to my mind, with essentially complete harmonies... Music that knocks on the door of my soul and which I gladly welcome and then set free by putting pen to paper". There are also melodies like 'Mira il tuo popolo' which take him back to when he was a boy, growing up in Tuscany. "They represent the soundtrack to my childhood memories," he says.

One of the hidden gems on Believe is 'Fratello sole sorella luna (Dolce è Sentire)' - a song featured in the Franco Zeffirelli film Brother Sun, Sister Moon - with music composed by Riz Ortolani. Another delight is 'Angele Dei' - a newly-discovered piece by Puccini, arranged by Michael Kaye, which Bocelli premiered in 2019. It was originally written without lyrics, so Bocelli asked for words of a prayer (addressed to a guardian angel) to be added.