Bocelli and his wife Veronica travel on horseback along Via Francigena in Italy, an ancient road traveled by pilgrims for centuries in the footsteps of the apostles and saints
In celebration of his faith, family, friends, and homeland, the famous Tuscan artist Andrea Bocelli recently embarked on a 200-mile pilgrimage — on horseback — along the Via Francigena, from Rome to Tuscany. The result is the new film The Journey: A Musical Special from Andrea Bocelli directed by Gaetano Morbioli and by tuscan Paolo Sodi for the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and coming exclusively to US theaters from April, 2-9 only.
The Journey, partly shot in Tuscany in 2021, begins with a delightful, but all-too-brief cameo from Pope Francis, who blesses Bocelli and his fellow travelers as they set out in dramatic fashion on horseback from St. Peter’s Basilica. Chief among Bocelli’s riding companions is his wife, Veronica, who also is one of the film’s executive producers. One scene features the couple’s young daughter, Virginia, whom Bocelli serenades in an empty church with a version of “Ave Maria” that he had written for her a few years earlier. In another scene, Bocelli performs Schubert’s familiar version of the same sacred text in a picturesque landscape.
International music guests
The film alternates between stunning drone shots of the Italian countryside, conversations on horseback between Bocelli and his friends, and dramatically staged performances in a variety of outdoor and indoor settings along the route. There are many artists featured in the film: Tori Kelly, Michael W. Smith, Tauren Wells and Hillsong United’s Taya Gaukrodgers. Classical music fans may enjoy seeing and hearing from the world-famous Welsh crossover singer Katherine Jenkins, Bach specialist Ramin Bahrami, conductor Beatrice Venezi, and the Croatian cellist duo, 2CELLOS, who have become a YouTube sensation.
