Andrea Bocelli Sings Music of Season in ‘Sacred Arias’

A beautiful church setting in a Roman basilica, atmospheric lighting, a strong choir and orchestra and a good conductor--Andrea Bocelli is in good company and elegant surroundings when he performs an hourlong, holiday-flavored “Sacred Arias” concert in the “Great Performances” series tonight on KCET.

Unfortunately, it’s mostly hype, as several of the Italian tenor’s 1999 North American appearances have turned out to be. The top-selling recording artist made his U.S. operatic debut in Detroit, in October, for instance, and the critics were unimpressed.

In the title role of Massenet’s “Werther,” in a 2,700-seat auditorium, without amplification, he was cited by the New York Times critic as being totally out of his depth, delivering “curiously blank” singing; the Detroit News reviewer called him “essentially inadequate.”

As noted when the Tuscany-born singer performed in California in April, Bocelli’s voice is pleasant, his singing musical. But a combination of limited technique, narrow vocal color and often minimal identification with words make the 41-year-old tenor an uninvolving performer.

Conducted by the worthy Myung-Whun Chung, Bocelli’s program includes three different “Ave Marias,” Franck’s “Panis Angelicus,” “Silent Night” with chorus, the Domine Deus from Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solenelle,” and the instrumental Intermezzo from Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana,” to which have been added prayerful words. Bocelli sings most of it straightforwardly, with little expression, limited dynamics and an adamant ignoring of the musical line.

Bocelli’s strongest performance indicates that he has more potential, however, than he usually delivers. Paradoxically, that evidence comes in the most technically challenging aria, “Ingemisco” from the Verdi Requiem. He gets closest to musical legitimacy here, singing with attention to detail, dynamic molding and an approximation of legato singing.

The orchestra and chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia contribute their own moments: a somewhat mushy Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah,” Monteverdi’s “Beata Vergine” and the “Sanctus” from the Verdi Requiem. The chorus is reliable, if non-virtuosic, the orchestra accomplished. Conductor Chung holds everything together seamlessly.

* “Andrea Bocelli: Sacred Arias,” “Great Performances” can be seen at 8 tonight on KCET-TV.