Bocelli Hopes for Whitney Duet...

[From iafrica.com]

Bocelli wants duets with Aguilera, Whitney

Posted Fri, 30 Apr 2004

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has said he admires pop stars Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston as well as the jazz songbird Norah Jones, and would like to sing duets with them.

Bocelli, who is in the Philippine capital for a concert on Friday, told a press conference: "The world is full of wonderful voices. I love the voice of Miss Aguilera. If somebody asked me to sing with her, I'd be very happy."

Pressed to name other pop stars he would like to work with, Bocelli, cited Grammy winners Norah Jones and Whitney Houston as well as Celine Dion, who had previously performed with him.

Asked why he only named female singers, Bocelli, who has been blind since the age of 12, remarked that when he imagines himself singing a duet, he only imagines doing so with a female singer.

The tenor, who has sold more than 50 million classical albums worldwide, is on a series of concerts in Asia and praised the growing number of Asians who excel in opera.

"In Italy, so many students who are studying opera are Asians. Very few people know how many good voices come from Asia," he remarked.

Even the summer heat, which has Filipinos wilting, was welcomed by Bocelli, who said it was a treat after the cold weather in Italy.

"A few days ago, it was very, very cold. I arrived here, it was terrific — hot," Bocelli said.

AFP
 

NEWSFILE: 20 APRIL 2004