A-list Lineup of Musical Guests Makes This a “Starry” Night
NEW YORK–(Business Wire)–
Everyone`s favorite “Hitman” David Foster joins Great Performances superstar
Andrea Bocelli for a new Christmas concert of holiday classics airing on
Thanksgiving night. Showcasing Bocelli`s unmistakable soaring vocals are lush
new arrangements infused with the distinctive Foster touch. The inspiring
concert performance, recorded at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, also features
special musical guests Natalie Cole, Mary J. Blige, Reba McEntire, Welsh
mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, The Muppets and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Among the featured songs highlighted will be “White Christmas,” “Oh Holy Night,”
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “The Christmas
Song,” “What Child is This” and many more. Andrea Bocelli and David Foster: My
Christmas will be broadcast in the New York City/tri-state viewing area on
THIRTEEN`s Great Performances series in HD on Thanksgiving night, Thursday,
November 26 at 8 p.m. EST, with additional broadcasts continuing in December on
PBS stations nationwide (check local listings).

Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG -
one of America`s most prolific and respected public media providers.

The My Christmas concert is the ultimate holiday musical experience from Andrea
Bocelli, showcasing the tenor in performances of traditional carols and other
favorites in English, with a few additional selections in Italian and German.
Regarding Christmas music, the star remarks, “I have long dreamed of recording a
holiday album that captures the beautiful traditions of the holiday season.
Every year, these songs have brought incredible joy to me and my family, and it
is my hope to give back that same joy by making this album.” Of her experience
singing Elvis Presley`s “Blue Christmas” with Bocelli during the taping, country
music star Reba McEntire told the Toronto Sun, “I sat there in awe. I just loved
it. (His voice) is rich like frosting on a cake - decadent. It`s so full. I
stood there right beside him and just watched him.”

An iconic figure in music who has sold more than 60 million albums to date,
Bocelli continues to defy categorization, age barriers and labels of any kind.
In concert or on the opera stage, he has sung with everyone from Luciano
Pavarotti and Placido Domingo to Bono and Celine Dion. In addition to his solo
Great Performances concert programs, Bocelli`s many memorable television
appearances include the Oscar and Grammy Awards telecasts, mentoring contestants
on American Idol and performances at the Official Ceremonies of the Olympic
Games, all of which have propelled Andrea Bocelli into becoming a global
household name in contemporary popular music.

The national PBS broadcast of Andrea Bocelli and David Foster: My Christmas is
produced by THIRTEEN for WNET.ORG.
 

 

 
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This is a short video interview with David Foster on NBC Today’s October 1st, 2009.

 
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From newsroom.lds.org:

POSTED BY DOUG ANDERSEN
Capping off an intense week of multiple recording sessions inside the historic Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Andrea Bocelli and David Foster joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for a few hours this month.

“The Lord’s Prayer,” featuring Andrea Bocelli, the choir and orchestra, and David Foster at the organ will be part of a PBS Christmas special produced by WNET. After several takes, David Foster then switched to the piano to accompany both the choir and orchestra for “The Prayer,” a song he personally composed, which will be featured in an upcoming choir and orchestra recording.

Between takes of the recording process, Bocelli sat down at the Tabernacle’s famous pipe organ and gave an impromptu recital of “Ave Maria” while accompanying himself.
“It was beautiful; his sweet voice carried throughout the Tabernacle,” said choir member Robb Cundick, who also said the unplanned performance was his favorite part of the afternoon.

After the conclusion of “The Lord’s Prayer,” Bocelli said he had enjoyed his day in Salt Lake as well as singing in the Tabernacle. He complimented the Tabernacle acoustics and said that the entire experience was very moving.
“For me it was a huge experience,” Bocelli said. “The quality of the choir is very high. … The orchestra also (is) very inspiring.”

 
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Wales News
Sep 18 2009 by Robin Turner, Western Mail

SOPRANO Katherine Jenkins looks set for her big break in the US, thanks to a television Christmas special.

The Neath star is to sing a duet with tenor Andrea Bocelli in his festive show on the PBS network.
The show, which will also feature Mary J Blige, Natalie Cole and The Muppets, looks set to bring the 29-year-old to a big American audience, with PBS boasting 65 million viewers.

Although Jenkins has insisted she does not want to move from the UK, it will certainly boost sales of her new album, Believe, the first she has recorded in the US.

The Welsh diva had a huge ovation from the 5,000-strong crowd at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre this week where the Christmas show was recorded in front of a live audience.

Bocelli picked Jenkins to sing the ballad I Believe after being impressed with her when they duetted during the 2007 Strictly Come Dancing final.

The singer, due to arrive back in Britain at Heathrow Airport today in time for her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing tomorrow night, was clearly thrilled by her quick visit to Hollywood.

She enthused on her website yesterday: “I’m here on a whistle stop tour – I arrived on Sunday and I go home on Thursday.

“I’m here to perform a TV concert with David Foster and Andrea Bocelli for a PBS Christmas special.

“It’s being filmed at the Kodak theatre… where the Oscars are held! You should see the set, it’s incredible! There are Christmas trees and fake snow, it looks like a magical Christmas in Hollywood!”

She added: “As soon as I get back to the UK I have to prepare for my performance on Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday!

“I’m a massive fan of the show and had so much fun performing on it with Andrea Bocelli in 2007, so I’m really pleased to be involved again.

“I’ll be singing ‘I Believe’ from my new album, but instead of singing it as a duet with Andrea (as I do on the album), I’ll be singing it solo. I can’t wait to see all the dancers in their fabulous outfits!”

Celebrity-watchers believe the Christmas special could well be Katherine’s big break in the US.

Beverley Watts, editor of the online version of Celebrity magazine Now, said: “She has a new management team who are said to be very keen for her to cross the Atlantic.

“Katherine has told us she has no intention of moving to the US on a permanent basis but she’ll need to spend a decent amount of time there to make it work.

“And Bocelli is, of course, massive in America and with the right choice of music, Katherine could now crack it in the US and of course she’s a stunning girl.”

And Elaine Penn, deputy showbiz editor of TV Quick magazine, added: “Katherine Jenkins is already a huge name in the UK, due to her enormous talent. And to be asked to record a duet in the States with Andrea Bocelli is high praise indeed as he’s an international star, recognised the world over and huge in the US.

“Appearing alongside him on PBS could be just the exposure Katherine needs to make it there – after all, the station is said to be America’s ‘most trusted national institution’.”

Producer David Foster is now steering Jenkins’ US career. He said: “Katherine’s voice is right up there with the best. On the Christmas TV special with Andrea she both looked and sounded beautiful.”

Although the star has signalled her intention to break into the American market, moving permanently to the States is something she has said she is keen to avoid.

In a recent interview with Now magazine, she asserted: “I have no intention of moving to America.

“I have a house in London and all my family in Wales. I love it in the US but I am definitely not going to move there.”

The album will be released on October 27, 2009.

Worldwide Superstar Andrea Bocelli Set to Release His First-Ever Holiday CD,
My Christmas
Produced By The Grammy-Award Winning David Foster, Available November 3rd On
Sugar/Decca

NEW YORK, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Millions will rejoice this holiday season
with the much-anticipated release of Andrea Bocelli’s My Christmas. The
first-ever Christmas recording from Andrea is a heart-warming collection of
songs destined to become a holiday classic for years to come. Produced by the
legendary David Foster, the CD features the singer’s unmistakable soaring
vocals, alongside duets with special guests to be announced soon. My
Christmas will be released on Sugar/Decca on November 3rd.

My Christmas is the ultimate holiday recording from Andrea Bocelli, who sings
traditional carols and favorites in English, with a few selections also
featuring Italian and German. The lush, beautiful arrangements are evident
throughout; highlights include “White Christmas,” “Oh Holy Night,” “Santa
Claus is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “The Christmas
Song,” and “What Child Is This” among others.

“I have long dreamed of recording a holiday album that captures the beautiful
traditions of the holiday season. Every year these songs have brought
incredible joy to my family and I, and it is my hope to give back that same
joy by making this album,” commented Bocelli. My Christmas will also be a
major component of a PBS Great Performances special to air on Public
Television this December. The program will present both Andrea Bocelli and
David Foster together in a stellar Christmas program, to be filmed on
September 15th at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Additionally on the live front, Andrea is slated to perform three historic
classical concerts for the first time ever at New York City’s famed Carnegie
Hall on September 8th, 9th and 11th. A series of very special Christmas
concerts are slated for December; confirmed dates include November 28th at
Bank Atlantic Center in Ft Lauderdale, December 3rd at Air Canada Center in
Toronto, December 5th at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ, December
12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and December 13th at the Honda Center in
Anaheim.

An iconic figure in music who has sold over 60 million albums to date, Bocelli
continues to defy categorization, age barriers and labels of all kinds. In
concert or on the opera stage, he has worked with everyone from Luciano
Pavarotti and Placido Domingo to Bono. His memorable television appearances
on such events including The Grammy Awards, mentoring contestants on American
Idol, and the Official Ceremonies of past Olympic Games have propelled Andrea
Bocelli to a global household name.

Superstar Andrea Bocelli returns to his native Italy for a “Great Performances” concert of his greatest hits along with the debut of new songs. “Vivere: Andrea Bocelli Live in Tuscany” will be broadcasted Wednesday, Dec. 5, 8-9:30 p.m. EST on U.S. channel PBS.
Taped at a specially constructed theater on the slopes of the ancient hill town of Lajatico in Italy, Bocelli is joined on stage by David Foster plus Chris Botti, Heather Headley, Kenny G., Lang Lang, Elisa, Laura Pausini and Sarah Brightman for an evening of romantic favorites.