Matteo Bocelli knows how to make visitors feel comfortable in his Tuscany home — with cooking and singing.

“I’m a pasta lover, so I would make any type of pasta — from making my own pesto, from making my own ragu, making my own carbonara,” said Bocelli, whose father is legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Bocelli is temporarily calling the United States his home, as he tours in support of his new sophomore album, “Falling in Love.” He performs at the Mesa Arts Center’s Tom and Janet Ikeda Theater at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Tickets start at $50 at ticketmaster.com.

“My music is the most important thing to me,” Bocelli said via Zoom from his home about the set list.


MORE NEWS: The 100 Best Doctors in Arizona for 2026

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here


“But, at the same time, I kept a few classics that people may expect from me.”

With “Falling in Love,” Bocelli adopted a different recording approach than his debut, “Matteo.” “Matteo” was recorded during the pandemic lockdown, forcing him to miss the traditional collaborative process. When it came time to work on “Falling in Love,” he invited his band and producers to his home.

“That’s what I missed a lot with the first record,” Bocelli said. “With this one, I set up a studio at my place, at my home, where I invited the producer and the musicians to work on the record.

“For me, it was important to gather at the table. It’s fundamental to be all together for weeks and spend time together and work on songs whenever it feels right.”

Bocelli strived to write personal songs for “Falling in Love.” 

“[The] songs need to represent yourself. And it doesn’t mean the way I represent myself on this album will be the same on the next. We all change. We’re human beings. But for this moment, this phase of my life was what I was looking for: an organic-sounding record.”

Bocelli wrote all of the album’s original songs, working with well-known songwriters like Terefe, Toby Gad (Beyoncé, John Legend), Iain Archer (Snow Patrol), and Johan Carlsson (Ariana Grande). 

The spirit of his Italian heritage runs through “Falling in Love,” which was produced by producer Martin Terefe (Shawn Mendes, Jason Mraz) and an ensemble.

“He’s a beautiful soul,” he said about Terefe.

“He is also an incredible human being. And I feel like he’s been great in the role of an orchestra conductor. He’s been great in managing everyone. Having a big ego can sometimes limit the talent around you. And instead, he’s helped me be creative, giving every musician their own space, their own way, their own way of expressing themselves.”

Bocelli asks fans to look beyond the obvious when listening to “Falling in Love.”

“There’s falling in love for a specific person or falling in love for anything in life,” he said. “Like to wake up in the morning and be excited for the nature that you have; that you’re surrounded by your friends.

“There are new people you might meet. There are new songs and new music. This is the easiest way for me to express myself and feel accomplished.”

Bocelli said he is happy with his career, just like others who pursue what they wish.

“If someone is good at something that we think we like and are good at, we’re appreciated. If someone is good at being a doctor, they get the satisfaction of healing people.”

Bocelli said he hopes that listeners can disconnect from the world with “Falling in Love.”

“I feel like we live in a world where they try to make us think as little as possible and just act,” he said.

“It’s passive. I feel like music can make you reflect and maybe feel better. That doesn’t mean that a song has to be happy. It can be a song that helps you get out some sadness that you may keep inside and to feel better the instant you finish listening to it. [During concerts] it doesn’t really matter who you have in front of you. It just matters if you’re able to truly give them something special.”