Andrea Bocelli, the international superstar tenor returns to Great Performances once again to delight fans with Andrea Bocelli: Love in Portofino, a new concert special in which he puts classical music aside for an evening of international favorites inspired by the breathtaking coastal setting of Portofino, Italy.
Watch a preview:
The Italian fishing village and upmarket resort is noted for its picturesque harbor and frequent celebrity visitors, as demonstrated by a kaleidoscopic photo montage featuring screen legends Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Eddie Fisher, Elizabeth Taylor, and current personalities ranging from Denzel Washington to Ellen DeGeneres.
With 16-time Grammy-winner David Foster as both music director and keyboard accompanist, Bocelli is also joined by trumpeter Chris Botti. Under the stars, beside the shimmering harbor waters, and with a rapt audience including Paul Anka, Sir Michael Caine, and Italian actress Ornella Muti, Bocelli performs some of the world’s most famous love songs, including “Senza Fine,” “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás,” “Bésame Mucho,” “Champagne,” “Love Me Tender,” and in duet with the late, legendary Edith Piaf, “La Vie en Rose,” while his real-life love Veronica Berti looks on adoringly. Bocelli sings in six languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Neapolitan). The sensual sound is rounded out by Cuban, Brazilian, and Portuguese rhythms.
Andrea Bocelli: Love in Portofino airs on Great Performances in March on PBS. (Check local listings.) (In New York, THIRTEEN will premiere the special Sunday, March 3 at 9 p.m.)
Andrea Bocelli: Love in Portofino is, in essence, a sequel to his earlier Great Performancesspecial, Amore. As with that concert, which featured timeless masterworks, the latest includes several beloved classics such as “Love Me Tender,” “Il Nostro Incontro” (the theme from Cinema Paradiso), “Sara Settembre,” (better known to English-speaking audiences as Neil Diamond’s “September Morn,” and translated into Italian by Bocelli himself), and “La mia via” (“My Way”), with the composer sitting harborside.
Since Great Performances introduced American television audiences to Bocelli with 1997′sRomanza concert, Bocelli has been featured in a notable series of Great Performancesspecials, including Sacred Arias, Amore, Vivere, My Christmas and American Dream, his spectacular “Statue of Liberty” concert from New Jersey’s Liberty State Park. Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park aired in December 2011. He wasaccompanied by the New York Philharmonic, under the direction of music director Alan Gilbert, the spectacular event being Bocelli’s special gift to New York City.
Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET, one of America’s most prolific and respected public media providers. For 50 years, THIRTEEN has been making the most of the rich resources and passionate people of New York and the world, reaching millions of people with on-air and online programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites students of all ages to have fun while learning.
The musical program at press time is set to include:
Il Nostro Incontro (theme from “Cinema Paradiso”) (with Chris Botti)
Senza Fine
Anema e Core (with Caroline Campbell)
Quizás, Quizás, Quizás (with Caroline Campbell)
A Mano A Mano
Perfidia
Champagne
Corcovado (with Brazilian singer Sandy)
Tristeza
La Vie En Rose (with excerpts performed by Edith Piaf)
Qualche stupido “ti amo” (Somethin’ Stupid) (with Veronica Berti)
Bésame Mucho
Love Me Tender
Sarà Settembre (September Morn)
When I Fall in Love (with Helene Fischer & Chris Botti)
Roma Nun Fà La Stupida Stasera (“Rome, Don’t Act Silly Tonight”)
Era Già Tutto Provisto
Love in Portofino (with Caroline Campbell)
My Way
The Ensemble Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Giacomo Loprieno.
On January 29, Verve Music Group will release the studio album, “Passione,” featuring the Mediterranean love songs featured on the special.
Andrea Bocelli: Love in Portofino is directed by David Horn.
For Great Performances, Mitch Owgang and Andrea Cotromano are producers; Bill Kabel is associate producer; Bill O’Donnell is series producer; David Horn and Filippo Sugar are executive producers.
Major funding for Great Performances is provided by the Irene Diamond Fund, the Paul W. Zuccaire Foundation, The Starr Foundation, The Agnes Varis Trust, the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation and PBS.



I just received this email, but I was Blessed to turn to KQED yesterday, not knowing that I would find.
I was so pleasantly surprised and thoroughly delight to see Mr Andrea Bocelli`s beautiful face!
I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!
It was just a God Send that I happened to turned to KQED just before Mr Bocelli started singing. He was amazing!
It was magical. He looked so handsome. Each person in the orchestra looked as if there were all enjoying every moment.
I cried from the beauty of the whole concert and everything that occurred. It was so so lovely. David Foster was so enchanting as the host and the pianist.
I bought the CD and the DVD.
I wasn’t aware the DVD had been released have been looking everywhere where did you get it? Thanks
Hi Susy,
Andrea Bocelli: Love in Portofino is available as a thank-you gift for pledging your support to PBS. We recommend you visit pbs.org or a local affiliate of your choosing to see how you might secure a copy of the program.
Thanks,
GP Team
Hi, is the dvd still being offered as a gift with pledge? I would love to get this for mum for her birthday. Many thanks. Kelley.
Hi Kelley,
The DVD is still being offered as a thank you gift in return for your support. Contact a station of your choosing or visit pbs.org to find out how to donate and receive the DVD. We’re so glad you enjoyed the program and we thank you for your support!
Would you be able to let me know if the DVD of Andrea Bocelli Love in Portofino is being released.
Thank you
Patricia Rose
” I loved it so much I just about peed my pants!” (Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman)
This is what a concert should be! I only wish that the younger generation could appreciate this mans incredible talent!
Will this concert be available on DVD soon?
fantastic performance by Bocelli as usual. I loved the German singer, Helena Fischer. long live beautiful music !
How can I purchase this concert on DVD?
Dear Melanie,
By pledging your support to your local PBS station. Many stations are offering the Andrea Bocelli DVD as a thanks for your support. We can’t make these kinds of programs without it! We thank you for watching and supporting GREAT PERFORMANCES!
What a fabulous setting for this concert. Mr. Bocelli and David Foster
create magic on stage.
Enjoyed the concert and wish I was there!
Absolutely love this program…was not able to order DVD or CD at the time. Ordered the CD, but would love to have the DVD
This performance in DVD will sell millions. Can’t wait till PBS puts it out on the retail market. They can make a fortune on it and save on contribution calling.
Dear Charlie,
Unfortunately, there are no plans for the DVD to be released commercially. And in the case if it were to be released commercially through retail, we would get little to no revenue from its sale. It’s very important that our viewers know that we really do depend on “Viewers Like You” to produce these programs to begin with as they are very expensive endeavors. Bringing these wonderful programs to our audience brings us great joy. We hope that if you so enjoyed the program you consider lending your support.
Thank you for watching GREAT PERFORMANCES!
GP Team
Can I still make a contribution to receive the DVD?
we watched the performance at the cinama in the uk how can we obtain the dvd ? happy to make a donation
Please tell me when Andrea Bocelli (Love in Portofino) will be broadcast again (first 3/3/13) as I missed it – My PBS station is WGBH channel 2 Boston
This setting is incredible. Is it actually Italy or is it the Portofino Hotel in Orlando Florida
Who is elena fisher?
Elana Fisher is a German star that recently performed on her own TV show in Berlin. It was absolutely
spectacular from all reports. Sorry, I don’t know what channel. I have to believe that CD and or DVDs of this show are available through a German company. Try just Googling her name and besure to put “Germany” in the title somewhere. Good luck.
I have been trying to buy a copy of Love in Porto Fina but PBS says they are not releasing it at this time.
This one action turns me off completely from PBS and I wouldn’t dream of donating 9O.OO to get one DVD, I don’t care how good it is. Ebay had a copy for 66.OO. Wait long enough. I can’t believe that the Bocelli people
are so dumb as not to insist on a commercial release of this great concert, he was at his best. I bought Bocellini in Central Park from Amazon but it was mostly classical, not my style……
Can someone provide a legend for who was shown in the still photos shown during the performance (Elizabeth Taylor, etc.). We’re having a discussion about which celebrities are shown.
I have been a fan of PBS for years and was thrilled to be introduced to Andrea Bocelli in his first appearance in November 2006. I’ve seen him in person in Seattle and Fresno. Have almost all his CDs. Obviously I’m a fan.
But ” Love in Portofino” was a disappointment. I hate to say it but it was boring. Almost all the songs sounded the same…very little variation. The setting was fantastic, the duet with Veronica was delightful, but the concert was just mediocre Sorry :(
Ops! Andrea Bocelli’s first PBS appearance wasn’t in 2006…..was it 1996?
I loved Portofino beautiful setting David Foster truly loves his art as does Bocelli.
Sandy from Brazil adorable, Elana Fisher stunning, Bottifabulous,,
Thanks for all the great performaces.
Looking forward to more. And of course Dowton Abby!!!!
Victoria
Are there plans for another concert in portofino with bocelli and foster? Please!!!!!
Hi there-
We are desperately trying to get a copy of this DVD for someone who is ill at hospital and would love nothing more than to see this concert.
I’m checking all avenues- and it has led me here.
We are in Australia- can someone please email me back and let me know how I can obtain it or if it is at all possible from Australia. A donation would be the least of our worries if we could simply find a way to get onto a copy of this dvd.
Please respond with instructions. Thank you.
Hi there.
I live in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and just today I found out in internet about Love in Portofino. I think I’m working too hard…
I’m a big fan of Bocelli and unfortunately was not aware of the sessions in cinema, that was launched in Brazil on 22-March, but I could not find any place where it’s still on.
I watched in Youtube Bocelli singing with Sandy in Rio (my home town), what a great performance and a wonderful night!
Please tell me how to buy this wonderful DVD, please, please, please!!!
Elen
I was recently in Portofino in 2012. I fell in love with Bocelli’s Concert in Portofino! I have already purchased the CD from this concert. However, I would love to purchase its DVD. Please let me know how I can obtain this great remeberance of Portofino and of course, Andrea Bocelli. Thank you.
Who is the guy played accordion as Andrea sang “Senza Fine”? Mario …who?
Can I still make a donation and receive the DVD as a gift? Please let me know the best way to do this.
Thanks
How can I buy a copy of the dvd please?