Magazine article which was an interview with Signora Edi Bocelli - Andrea's mother

Excerpts from Oggie Magazine (magazine in Italy)

I made my son cry so that he would not live as a blind person

"I knew early that Andrea would lose his sight" says Edi, the mother of the tenor who makes the world dream. "To help him become a man, I forgot pity. A deep faith gave me strength" . . . .

"One needs courage to do what Andrea does. Sometimes I try to close my eyes, I see him strike that imperial pose with which he stands before the orchestra, before millions of people, in silence, in spite of all the wickedness that has surrounded him lately (criticism). Even I, who know him better than any other, ask myself how does he do it. Now comes to mind another saying that says: "Our Lord gives clothes according to the cold. And I thank him, our Lord, because Andrea lives as he sings, with an open heart. And, because by our side, there has always been a guardian angel, our great faith"

Edi Bocelli does not emphasize this. But her faith is real, profound. She is serene. As she must be that for her son. "When he was eight, we went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France and he entered the Madonnina grotto together with a priest, our friend, the same one who later preformed Andrea's marriage . And he recently recounted to me their conversation at that time. Andrea confided to him: ‘I didn't ask for this.’ No. He did not ask to receive his sight again. ‘So, what did you ask for?’ ‘For serenity.’ That, the Madonnina has given my son. And now, he gives it to others."

Link to entire Article: Click Here

Artist critique

I fashioned my Madonna to a Madonna that was painted by one of my favorite Italian Reniassance Painter, none other than Botocelli, (my favorite Reniassance Painter..along with Da Vinci and Michelangelo). I wanted to deplict that the Madonna is looking after Andrea as perhaps a spiritual guide that gives him strength, courage, serenity, humbleness and peace as he sings to millions. "Immenso", one of the songs from the "Sogno" -Bocelli's CD, was the music playing as I created this illustration.

Dear Andrea, I drew you singing one of your wonderful arias. Only your profile. The Madonna is in back of you about to touch you. She has a serene look on her face. There is a purple background which is the immense sea and some hillside. The sky and sea are a deep purple. I chose a purple horizon - cool color to deplict calm, rather than a bright sunny horizon as one with sight might see. The moon is peaking through the clouds.