Italy’s world-famous opera singer, Andrea Bocelli, delivered one of the most memorable moments of the 2024 Oscars by performing “Time To Say Goodbye” with his son, Matteo Bocelli, during the “In Memoriam” segment. This tribute honored recently departed stars like Tina Turner, Robbie Robertson, Matthew Perry, and Richard Lewis.
Dressed in electric navy blue, Andrea and Matteo’s voices harmonized beautifully, showcasing their shared passion for opera. As they sang, images of late celebrities were displayed, supported by ethereal backing dancers. The emotional performance moved many spectators to tears.
Andrea, now 65, first made this song famous in 1995, establishing himself as one of Italy’s finest tenors. For the 2024 Oscars, he debuted a new version of “Con Te Partirò,” with orchestration by Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer. Performing alongside his 26-year-old son, this rendition celebrated Andrea’s 30th anniversary in music.
Born in Lajatico, near Florence, Andrea Bocelli has released 15 solo studio albums and recorded nine complete operas, making significant contributions to both pop and classical music. His 1999 duet with Celine Dion, “The Prayer,” won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Matteo Bocelli, born in Tuscany in 1997, has frequently collaborated with his father. Their 2018 single “Fall on Me” was Matteo’s debut and featured on Andrea’s #1 album, “Sì.” They also released a Christmas album in 2022 with Matteo’s younger sister, Virginia Bocelli, titled “A Family Christmas.”
Andrea calls “Time To Say Goodbye” the “song of his life,” while Matteo sees it as his “family’s national anthem.” Hans Zimmer, who orchestrated the new arrangement, said it was an honor to collaborate with such remarkable voices.
This Oscars performance has garnered over 1.5 million views on YouTube and more than 1.9 million on its official music video. With Andrea Bocelli boasting over 6.18 million YouTube subscribers and 3 million Instagram followers, and Matteo over 1.5 million Instagram followers, this father-son duo continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their traditional Italian take on classical music.