The Music of Silence Page #5

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To ask the time, for instance,

how many words do you use?

I say... what time is...

[babbles] Too many words!

Silence. Do not speak.

Noon, two o'clock, who

cares what time it is! Silence!

Silence.

Silence is the most important

and the most difficult discipline.

Oh, do you have a girlfriend?

Yes.

That's a good thing if

she's happy to accept

the boring and extremely

irritating person

you will become after my lessons.

[laughs]

Ready?

[Playing tune]

[singing "E lucevan le stelle"]

Hold on, hold on.

Stop, stop, stop, stop.

Your voice is concealed.

Here.

If I do this...

[sings from his throat]

I'm throwing a lot of air,

nothing is happening,

nothing is vibrating.

But look at this.

[sings from his chest]

[singing "E lucevan le stelle"]

Lean into it, lean!

Hold it, hold it! Stop, stop.

You didn't give it

support from your body.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Take a deep breath.

No, I can't feel it. Can't feel it.

My hand must expand outwards.

Outwards and inwards,

every time you take a breath.

[mumbles indistinct]

Scales!

[singing scales]

[singing scales]

[singing "E lucevan le stelle"]

[panting]

Here!

All right.

Things have gone well.

Very well I might say.

Your voice has yet to fully mature,

but so far...

...the results have been...

...excellent.

My husband has been waiting

a long time for this moment.

And because we wanted it, it happened.

Isn't this forbidden?

Today we drink together to your future.

- Thank you, Maestro.

- No, no, no, no.

Thank you.

And in return I have

a little gift for you.

A friend of mine has a

recording studio in Modena.

I have asked him as a favor

to record your voice for you

as a souvenir of our work together.

We will go... we will go

there together, if you want.

- Thank you again, Maestro.

- Good, good.

And then there is one more

thing I would like to say to you.

Listen, son,

singers, before a performance,

must remain in a condition

of the most absolute silence.

It's a difficult thing to achieve.

But when you have learned

how not to need words,

you will sense the sound

of your own breath,

of the movement of your muscles,

and even the movement of a single

hair on your head, ruffled by the wind.

You... you have a great advantage,

you're already familiar with sounds,

they guide your steps through life.

But the music of silence

will be your guide through

the interior of yourself.

And that, which you discover,

you will express through the

beautiful perfection of song.

[singing "O giovinetta bella"]

[scattered clapping]

Samuel Trani.

That's quite a voice, Mr. Bardi.

Maestro, I'm sorry, I must go.

Maestro, can I hug you?

Of course you can hug me.

I have a surprise for you.

I told my mother that I was

staying at Alice's place,

and Alice told her mother

she was staying at my place.

But she's actually spending

the night with her boyfriend.

What does that mean?

What happens if they call each other?

They won't, they're too

scared of finding out we lied.

[phone ringing]

Your mother.

No, it can't possibly be.

Amos Bardi.

[man on phone indistinct]

Yes, yes, we met at the studio.

Samuel Trani? Yes, I remember.

Zucchero Fornaciari?

Really?

Yes! Thank you.

What is it?

Zucchero wants to sing with

me, his agent was in the studio.

Zucchero? The rock star?

But why? I mean, you're an opera singer.

It's an experiment, a rock star

singing with an opera singer.

He also mentioned Pavarotti, who is

singing with him in America now,

but is thinking of

replacing him with me.

You're replacing Pavarotti?

I'm not sure. Maybe he wants

me to sing with both of them?

I was so excited I

wasn't really listening.

- That's fantastic.

- Yes. Yes, fantastic.

What's the matter?

The Maestro he's a purist, if

I go and sing rock music...

Pavarotti does it.

Pavarotti is Pavarotti.

He doesn't have to prove

anything to anyone.

Zucchero? Pavarotti?

Maestro, if I was to think for one

minute that you disapproved,

- I'd give it up...

- Amos, Amos! Go.

Just go.

You still here?

- So, Maestro, you approve of me

singing with Zucchero? -Of course.

Zucchero is a very good singer.

And good music is good

music whatever it is.

Pavarotti is a great singer.

And that Samuel Trani, with

whom you spoke on the phone,

is a crafty so-and-so, but

he's a very clever agent.

Forgive me, Maestro, but how

did you know Trani called me?

- You said it.

- No, no, I didn't.

No?

Perhaps I imagined it.

[laughs]

Amos... just go.

Yes, he's in his office.

Please, make yourself comfortable.

- I'll let him know you're here.

- Thank you.

You see, we were right

to come here in person,

these people have busy schedules,

you have to force them into the corner.

Thanks, Dad, thanks for all your help.

Amos.

My profound apologies

for keeping you so long.

Pleasure to see you, boy.

Pleasure to meet you, sir.

Pleasure to meet you, too, to

meet you in person, my son...

I'm on my way now.

We're in the middle of

releasing a major record

and we just don't have time

for anyone else right now,

but don't worry, Pavarotti

was really enthusiastic

and I'll do everything I can

to put you on the tour.

Unfortunately, I have a

plane waiting. I must go.

Thank you.

It's OK.

Samuel called, he spoke to Pavarotti!

Really?

When he told him I was an unknown singer

from a piano bar, he

wouldn't believe it!

He said, "You don't think I know a

proper tenor from a bar singer?"

What did he say then?

He said, "With this kid,

you don't need me!"

Oh, my God!

But I've got to keep myself

free from any other contracts.

Because I'll be taking Pavarotti's

place on Zucchero's tour.

I'm going to call Pap

and Uncle Giovanni.

You know? You're not a simple

unknown bar singer like Samuel says.

And when I see Pavarotti,

I'm going to tell him.

I suppose now we can start

thinking about possible dates for...

...getting married?

[giggles]

The 27th of June.

[Bocelli narrating] Unfortunately,

after all the enthusiasm,

there followed a deafening silence,

a silence not of music, but of torture.

After that first phone call,

Samuel disappeared for months.

[chattering]

Hey, Amos, when are

you going to Sanremo?

Signor Samuel Trani?

They told me he'd be back

from America 15 days ago.

He's out of the office?

No, he hasn't called me back.

Yes, he's got my number.

OK, with the De Bartolomei and

their three children, that makes 150.

Is that too many for you?

Too many? No, whatever

you want is fine with me.

But what do you want?

I don't have time to want anything!

I have to go out and get a job.

I had one at the piano bar,

and I left it to go back to studying.

We've taken some very

big decisions, you and I.

Pavarotti, Samuel, have all vanished,

and I'm back being supported by

my father. Do you understand?

Don't you want to marry me anymore?

Everything is ready, and you

don't want to marry me anymore?

[groans] Don't.

Hey...

Don't.

It's OK.

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