OFM Feature - Bocelli - FINAL_Pages 11 / 23 / 21 2 : 42 PM Page 3 ? ? amiliarVoice vided a message of hope to all during the pandemic . How did that come about ? A n d r e a B o c e l l i I need to underscore that the Milanese event For me , horseback riding is not only my favorite childhood sport , but also a privileged means of mo - was not a concert but a moment to pray to - tion . Still today , in the Tuscan lands where I was born and raised , I sometimes move around on gether and reaffirm the power of the Christian horseback . I appreciate the intelligence of this extraordinary animal ; its ability to express affection , message , [ which ] speaks of rebirth and life that fickleness , the complicity that you establish when riding , its ability to heighten the rider’s emotions . overcomes all . The Duomo was empty , but I Inevitably you create a very intense relationship with your horse . As with people , the connection can was not alone : In fact , there were tens of mil - be greater or weaker . . . . I remember , for example , a wonderful animal — an Arabian horse named Gi - lions of us , virtually together but profoundly asir . When he died , I was so upset that I decided to dedicate a poem to him in his memory . During interconnected . It was incredibly touching to lockdown , I unfortunately had to give up seeing my beloved horses . But I returned to horseback rid - feel , despite our forced separation , so much ing as soon as conditions permitted . This spring , I took on quite an ambitious project , considering unity and fraternity . The invitation came ini - tially from the mayor and the Archdiocese of Milan . I accepted without hesitation , because I believed in the good of the cause , doing with pleasure what I feel is first and foremost my duty , as a person of faith , as a Christian . Then the idea was further developed and the event grew exponentially . I keep the memory of that unprecedented experience as one of my abso - lute fondest . Last November , you released your 17th stu - dio album , Believe , to rave reviews . What can you tell us about the making of that al - bum ? The idea of a recording project like this was brewing for some time . … It then became somewhat of an urgency , later , during the forced inactivity of the first lockdown . The al - bum is a sort of spiritual autobiography . It is a collection of songs that can speak to the soul , offering the listener an incentive to encounter one’s spiritual dimension and understand its driving force . The project hinges on three con - cepts , the first of which is faith . Together with hope and charity , it makes up the theological virtues : the foundation of Christian action . The common denominator of the album is the im - petus toward spirituality , a call to meditation my not - so - young age : I wanted to embark on a journey of a few hundred kilometers ( almost 200 on the meaning of life . Believe represents the miles ) , together with my wife , Veronica , completely on horseback , following the ancient road — Via wish to offer a selection of songs that — regard - Francigena — running from Rome to Lajatico , my town of birth . less of one’s religious beliefs — could be a moment of serenity , introspection and beauty . In 2011 , you and your wife founded the Andrea Bocelli Foundation . What inspired you to do that ? What are the hopes and goals of the foundation ? You just recently resumed touring . How The commitment to philanthropy , my wife’s and mine , is age - old , albeit expressed in ways that were does it feel to be performing in front of quiet and “ private . ” Then , at the time of Veronica’s pregnancy , we felt the need to create something audiences again ? that was more stable and structured , so as to not squander the wealth of relations and bonds of mu - This new start of the tour has me on a tight tual trust we had established with so many people . The Foundation took shape from the concept that schedule , thus demanding a strong vocal com - unity is strength : We can do a lot on our own , but we can do much more together . The ABF is an mitment and good health . But it is a labor of extraordinary adventure that has grown very much in recent years , operating at the international level extreme love , because I can finally reunite with in the fields of education and technology research , following its stated mission of “ empowering peo - my audience again in person , as I had done for ple and communities . ” It is a large , extended family that launches projects throughout the world , of - so many years ! I can thank all of those who fering opportunities for people and communities to express their talent . Starting in 2011 , ABF raised have been so kind to appreciate my music . To more than 40 million euros and funded the building of nine schools in Italy and in Haiti , giving over return to concert venues and sing is like finally 3,500 students access to education . It ensures daily access to drinking water to over 400,000 people being able to hug the many friends I was not and basic health care in five of the most poor and remote communities in Haiti . In addition , the able to meet for so long . Foundation implements and promotes educational programs that use music as a further tool for so - cial inclusion and valorization of talent , in line with Target 4.7 of the UN 2030 agenda . What can fans look forward to during this tour ? On Easter Sunday of 2020 , you performed in an empty cathedral in Milan , which was The objective is an evening dedicated to sharing streamed and watched live by tens of millions of people worldwide . Your performance pro - beauty , together with good music and positive 1 8 | O R L A N D O F A M I L Y | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | O R L A N D O F A M I L Y M A G A Z I N E . C O M