Bocelli’s Appeal

I enjoyed Justin Davidson’s article on Andrea Bocelli, explaining his phenomenal appeal (“From Piano Bars to Puccini,” Feb. 21).

I am a woman over 40 who watches PBS (the demographic Davidson says Bocelli appeals to) and have seen him perform in New York and Las Vegas. All the things mentioned by Davidson are true: the good looks, the politeness, the vulnerability, the broken English and, of course, the beautiful voice, come across to the audience and make them love him. At both place they applauded loudly and long and called him back for as many encores as he was willing to give (three seems to be his limit).

I think it’s great that older women, who are usually ignored by the contemporary music scene, have someone to come out and see and thereby get exposure to not only the romantic ballads he sings so passionately but to the classic Neapolitan songs and operatic arias of Italy.

EDITH WOOD HARVATH

Buena Park

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What does Bocelli have against shaving? Granted, I can thoroughly enjoy his CDs even if he has a scraggly half-grown beard, but when he’s on TV, it’s downright distracting.

LYN MEYER

Thousand Oaks