Andrea Bocelli says he would love to duet with Taylor Swift to impress his daughter Virginia in an exclusive chat with the Mirror ahead of Friday night’s massive BST Hyde Park show

Andrea Bocelli says a duet with Taylor Swift could be a ‘great thing’

Stepping on stage tomorrow night in London’s Hyde Park in front of tens of thousands of fans, Andrea Bocelli could be excused a few nerves.

He vividly remembers the 1991 free concert given there by Luciano Pavarotti to celebrate the tenor’s 30 years in opera. On that occasion, the heavens opened and the crowd – including Charles and Diana – were left drenched. “I remember watching it on the television, Pavarotti was incredible,” the Italian star says. “I remember Diana being there and the sheer amount of people. It was just so moving.”

While doubtless wishing for a better forecast this time around, the sense of occasion is not lost on the 65-year-old, who is also celebrating three decades in the industry this year. The fact he is following in the footsteps of Pavarotti by playing the Royal Park makes it even more of a special moment. The musical powerhouse discovered Andrea in 1992 when he was played a tape of him singing. The maestro famously declared: “There is no finer voice than Bocelli.”

And Andrea admits: “I am a little bit nervous to be honest…It will be such a historic moment but one I am looking forward to.” The sense of trepidation is eased by the fact he will be joined on stage not only by his son Matteo, who is a talented singer, but also his 12-year-daughter Virginia.

Andrea follows in footsteps of Luciano Pavarotti who also played Hyde Park

I last interviewed Andrea 11 years ago in his New York hotel overlooking Central Park , when Virginia was barely a year old. Surrounded by toys scattered around the penthouse suite, Andrea was clearly smitten as he told me how he liked to sing her to sleep every night.

More than a decade later, and Virginia is now a budding star in her own right – but Andrea is just as smitten. Chatting to me in London’s Mandarin Oriental hotel just moments from Hyde Park, the pair of them make an endearing double act. While Andrea’s English is not perfect and he needs an interpreter, Virginia speaks in a flawless American accent.

So good, in fact, she often finishes his sentences. “When she sings it makes me very happy,” says Andrea, who is also keen not to put too much pressure on her. “Children have to be free, and I hope that when she is older, she does what her heart tells her.” For Virginia, who is his daughter with second wife Veronica Berti, she shows no sign of stage fright.

Andrea and Virginia on Loose Women

Andrea and Virginia perform a Christmas duet
“It’s pretty much normal [singing with my dad]… I usually do at least one or two songs and have got used to it now,” she says. Despite her father working with a string of stars such as Ed Sheeran, Shania Twain and Jennifer Lopez, Virginia says there is one star she wishes was in his sights. “I love Taylor Swift and am going to one of her concerts in a few days,” she says, nudging her father sitting next to her. “It would be amazing if he worked with her next.”

Andrea laughs. “I’ve thought about it and it could be a great thing,” he smiles. Given Andrea’s incredible network of celebrity friends, you’ve got to consider it a possibility. Not least as he is working with director Sam Wrench, who was behind Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Concert video…for his own film.

Called Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration and filmed at the Teatro del Silenzio in Tuscany, an array of artists have agreed to take part including Sheeran, as well as Plácido Domingo, Queen’s Brian May and Russell Crowe. “I am very moved to see that everyone said yes. It means a lot that they appreciate my art and my singing. It makes me so happy.”

Andrea Bocelli with son Matteo

Andrea has built up a legion of followers since he burst onto the scene with Time To Say Goodbye, his duet with Sarah Brightman in the 90s. Since then he has built up a fortune of more than £40million and has sold more than 100million albums worldwide. Last year he wowed at the King’s Coronation concert at Windsor Castle when he joined celebrated Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfe for a rousing performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

“It was only one song so I wasn’t too nervous…and it was nice seeing my friends such as Sarah Ferguson,” he says. After his stand-alone BST Hyde Park show, Andrea, who went blind at 12 after a football injury, is back on the road, performing in Europe and the States. But he says gone are the days when he could explore and soak up the atmosphere in cities.

“Now I only explore my hotel room. When I have concerts I can’t take the risk of catching a cold,” he explains. Despite his family usually being on the road with him, I ask whether touring ever gets lonely. “Any job has got its downsides but I am a lucky man because I have always done what I have absolutely loved. In reality I feel like I haven’t ever worked. Of course there are some moments that are not great but that’s part of life and it happens to anyone.” As for Virginia, Andrea is just plain old dad away from the cameras. “My dad has always done a good job keeping the performer separate from being my dad,” she says. “He is just the best.”