Andrea Bocelli Celebrates Romanza’s 30th Anniversary with Star-Studded Hollywood Bowl Show

Andrea Bocelli ’s sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday (Sept. 15) had many musical highlights. It was a very big show, with a very large orchestra and a large cast of supporting singers and dancers. It also had some issues — which are easily correctable, if Bocelli is willing.

The show opened with a video which was basically a slick commercial touting Bocelli. It was unnecessary (we know he’s great, that’s why we’re here) and seemed self-congratulatory. Bocelli rarely spoke to the audience, perhaps because of insecurities about what he called his “terrible English” when he finally did speak at length, near the end of the show. His English wasn’t terrible at all, but his silence through most of the show had created a distance between him and the audience.

Bocelli didn’t introduce any of his talented singers, who sang lead parts when he was offstage, or his four dancers. Their names appeared on video screens on either side of the stage at the end of the show, as basically a credit roll for the production. It’s fine to do that, but it doesn’t excuse Bocelli for not having introduced, in the moment, people who were doing so much to help carry his show.

So I’ll give them their due here up front: Aida Garifullina sang soprano, Edward Parks sang bass, Rusanda Panfili played violin. Pia Toscano served as a pop singer on several numbers. Francesco Costa, Angelica Gismondo, Brittany O’Connor and Paul Barris were dancers who brought touches of ballet to several numbers.

Bocelli did mention conductor Steven Mercurio and a few big-name guest stars who joined him for this engagement: Jennifer Hudson , Diane Warren and David Foster .

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Bocelli’s current tour is celebrating the upcoming 30th anniversary of Romanza , the 1997 compilation that kick-started his career and remains one of the best-selling contemporary classical albums of all time. The Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour is produced by AEG Presents.

Here are six highlights from Bocelli’s sold-out show, the first of two nights at the Hollywood Bowl.

_Originally reported by [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/lists/andrea-bocelli-hollywood-bowl-september-2026-recap/)._