Landmarks Live in Concert
Hosted by Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Returns to Great Performances with Andrea Bocelli Friday, June 30 at 10PM on PBS
The international superstar performs at Florence’s historic Palazzo Vecchio.
Andrea Bocelli – Landmarks Live in Concert – A Great Performances Special continues the new Landmarks arts strand on Friday, June 30 at 10 p.m. on PBS (Check local listings.) Landmarks Live in Concert special features an artist or band performing at a legendary destination of personal significance. The series is hosted by, Chad Smith, the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers who conducts one-on-one interviews with the artists exploring their favorite locations around each Landmark.
In addition to his numerous international awards, Bocelli is both a Grammy and Emmy nominated artist as well as one of the most successful and best-selling singers in the history of classical-crossover music. In this special performance from the spectacular Palazzo Vecchio in Florence Italy, Bocelli is joined by world renowned conductor Zubin Mehta, sopranos Carly Paoli and Maria Aleida, baritone Gianfranco Montresor, and violinist David Garrett. Host Chad Smith takes an up-close and personal tour of Bocelli’s villa in Tuscany as well as the City of Florence.
Bocelli and Smith sit down for a musician-to-musician conversation providing a very special opportunity to hear the tenor talk about his home in the hills of Tuscany, his family and, of course, his music. They also sit down for an impromptu musical jam session.
After his Tuscany afternoon with Bocelli, Smith heads back into town for a unique tour of Florence with Mayor Dario Nardella, as they go inside the Palazzo Vecchio for an exclusive tour and discuss the history of this magical place where (as Nardella says) “the modern history of humanity was born.”
Smith later makes his way to “the real Florence on the other side of the river” (the modern day home to the genuine craftsmen of Florence) as he visits Bocelli’s favorite Silk Shop, the Antico Setificio Fiorentino Factory (built in 1786) for a rare tour and education on silk weaving that is crafted the same way in 2017 as it was when the doors opened 230 years ago.
As the sun finally sets on Florence, Smith’s day winds down with a visit to the most famous landmark in Florence, the Duomo Cathedral (construction began 1296 and took 150 years to complete). With longtime Bocelli family friend Stefano Gabrielli as his night life guide to Florence, Smith shows us a bit of Florence at night and finally ends the day with “a dinner” at the famous Cammillo restaurant in the heart of the city.
Musical program
- “Amor, Vida De Mi Vida”
- “O soave fanciulla” from “La Boheme” (with Maria Aleida)
- “O sole mio” (with David Garrett)
- “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from “La Traviata” (With Carly Paoli)
- “Time To Say Goodbye” (With Carly Paoli)
- “Au fond du temple saint” from “The Pearl Fishers” (with Gianfranco Montresor)
- “Nessun dorma” from “Turandot”
The Landmarks concerts are recorded in locations around the world, including London, Paris, New York, Havana, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Jamaica, West Virginia and many more with major artists performing shows for their fans in front of landmarks to which they have a connection. The Landmarks series premiered in January with Alicia Keys and Brad Paisley.
The travelogue components of the programs, which are co-produced with Bungalow Media + Entertainment, show how the particular cities influenced the artists’ careers and shaped their music.
Landmarks Live in Concert is a production of City Drive Films. Daniel E Catullo III, CEO of City Drive Films s creator, director and executive producer. The series is co-produced with Bungalow Media + Entertainment. Its CEO, industry veteran Robert Friedman also serves as executive producer. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is series producer; David Horn is executive producer. Stephen Segaller is executive-in-charge for WNET.
Great Performances is produced by THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET, one of America’s most prolific and respected public media providers. Throughout its more than 40 year history on public television, Great Performances has provided viewers across the country with an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming.
Major corporate support for Andrea Bocelli – Landmarks Live in Concert is provided by Filmio.
Major support for Great Performances is provided by The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, the Irene Diamond Fund, the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, The Agnes Varis Trust, The Starr Foundation, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Abra Prentice Foundation, and PBS.
