Con te partirò
"Con te partirò" (Italian for "With you I will leave") is a classical crossover song composed by Francesco Sartori with lyrics by Lucio Quarantotto.[1][2] It was first performed by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli at the Sanremo Music Festival on February 3, 1995, where it finished fourth, and was released as a single from his second studio album Bocelli later that year.[3][4] The song's lyrics express themes of love and longing, depicting a narrator who dreams of departing with a beloved to escape solitude and share life's horizons.[2] The solo version of "Con te partirò" achieved significant commercial success, topping the singles charts in France and Belgium while breaking sales records in those markets.[3] In 1996, a reimagined duet version featuring Bocelli and English soprano Sarah Brightman, retitled "Time to Say Goodbye" with added English lyrics, was created specifically for the retirement match of German boxer Henry Maske.[5] Performed live at the event in November 1996, the duet was released as a single in 1997 and became an international phenomenon, reaching number one in multiple European countries including Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, and selling millions of copies worldwide.[6][7] The song's enduring popularity has led to numerous covers and adaptations across genres, cementing its status as one of the best-selling singles of all time and a staple in classical crossover repertoire.[8] It has been performed at major events, including Bocelli's concerts and televised specials, and remains a signature piece in his discography.[3]Original solo version
Background and composition
"Con te partirò" was composed in 1995 by Italian musician Francesco Sartori, who provided the music, and lyricist Lucio Quarantotto, who crafted the words.[2][9] The lyrics, entirely in Italian, revolve around themes of longing, farewell, and embarking on a journey together, with a simple yet evocative structure featuring introspective verses that build to a powerful, repeating chorus centered on the phrase "Con te partirò," translating to "With you I will depart."[10] Musically, the song embodies an operatic crossover style, seamlessly blending pop accessibility with classical influences through its dramatic orchestration, sweeping melodies, and opportunities for vocal virtuosity in the tenor range.[3][11] Andrea Bocelli, whose fame as a blind tenor was ascending after winning the newcomers' category at the 1994 Sanremo Festival, was chosen to premiere the track in the "Big Artists" (Campioni) section of the 1995 Sanremo Music Festival, where it earned fourth place.[11][12]Recording and release
"Con te partirò" was recorded in 1995 at Clock Studio in Bologna, Italy, with the strings captured at Studio Fonoprint, also in Bologna.[13] The production was handled by Mauro Malavasi, who also contributed to the arrangements alongside Joe Amoruso, creating an orchestral backdrop that complemented Bocelli's tenor vocals, known for their emotive delivery and soaring high notes.[14][3] Bocelli approached the recording with a focus on lyrical expression, drawing from the song's romantic themes to infuse the performance with personal intensity.[15] The track served as the opening song on Bocelli's second studio album, Bocelli, released on November 13, 1995, by Polydor in collaboration with Sugar Music.[16] It was issued as a single in Italy on February 21, 1995, by Sugar Music, formatted primarily as a CD single paired with the B-side "Vivere," and also available in cassette format for broader accessibility.[17] The initial promotion centered on Bocelli's live debut of the song at the Sanremo Music Festival on February 21, 1995, where it garnered significant attention, followed by tie-ins to the album's launch later that year.[18]Commercial performance
"Con te partirò" achieved notable success in Europe following its release. In France, the single topped the SNEP Singles Chart for four weeks in 1995 and remained on the chart for a total of 29 weeks.[19] In Belgium, it reached number one on the Ultratop 50 Flanders chart for 10 weeks in 1996, charting for 22 weeks overall.[20] The song broke sales records in both markets, becoming one of the best-selling singles of the year in France. It also performed well in Italy, bolstered by its Sanremo appearance, though specific chart data is limited.Critical reception
The original solo version of "Con te partirò" was praised for Andrea Bocelli's emotive tenor vocals and the song's soaring melody, which captured audiences with its blend of operatic drama and pop appeal. Its performance at the 1995 Sanremo Music Festival, finishing fourth, highlighted Bocelli's rising stardom and the track's immediate impact. Critics and listeners noted the song's ability to evoke deep emotion through its themes of longing and departure, establishing it as a key piece in Bocelli's early discography.[3]Duet version
Development and recording
The duet version of "Con te partirò," retitled "Time to Say Goodbye," was developed in 1996 specifically for the retirement bout of German boxer Henry Maske on November 23 of that year, with the performance commissioned for the event's television broadcast by RTL.[21] Sarah Brightman, who had been initially approached to perform her own song "A Question of Honour" at the match, discovered Andrea Bocelli's recent solo recording of "Con te partirò" and proposed adapting it into a bilingual duet to suit the occasion. This adaptation built upon the original composition by Italian musician Francesco Sartori (music) and lyricist Lucio Quarantotto, transforming the introspective solo aria into a more expansive, emotionally resonant piece for live presentation.[22][2][23] Quarantotto handled the lyrics adaptation for the duet, incorporating English verses to broaden its appeal while preserving key Italian elements from the chorus and structure. Brightman would sing the new English opening and verses, evoking themes of departure and new horizons, while Bocelli delivered the soaring Italian refrain, creating a seamless interplay between the languages. This bilingual approach not only honored the song's operatic roots but also enhanced its dramatic suitability for Maske's farewell, emphasizing themes of closure and journey.[2][24] The recording took place in 1996 at Nemo Studios in Hamburg, produced by Frank Peterson, who had previously collaborated with both artists. To accommodate the duet format, the arrangement was expanded with richer orchestration, including contributions from members of the London Symphony Orchestra, and featured Brightman's luminous soprano harmonies layered against Bocelli's tenor for added emotional depth and grandeur. This studio version was prepared swiftly to align with the live debut at the boxing event, capturing the performers' chemistry in a polished yet urgent production.[25]Release and promotion
The duet version of "Con te partirò", reimagined as the bilingual "Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)", was released as a single in Germany in November 1996 by EastWest Records, specifically crafted as a tribute to German boxer Henry Maske's impending retirement following his IBF light heavyweight title defense. The release coincided with Maske's high-profile farewell bout against Virgil Hill on November 23, 1996, at the Olympic Hall in Munich, where Brightman and Bocelli premiered the song live during the event's closing ceremonies, enhancing its immediate cultural resonance as a poignant send-off.[3] The performance received widespread television exposure through a live broadcast on German television, drawing an estimated 17 million viewers and amplifying the single's visibility across the country.[23] This broadcast was followed by extensive radio airplay throughout Europe, which helped propel the track into broader international awareness shortly after its debut. The single was issued in various formats, including CD maxi-singles and 7-inch vinyl, featuring the primary Italian-English bilingual rendition alongside instrumental and solo variations to appeal to diverse audiences. Further promotion integrated the duet into Brightman's studio album Timeless (released in 1997 in Europe) and Bocelli's compilation Romanza (also 1997), where it served as a centerpiece track, capitalizing on the song's thematic alignment with themes of departure and closure.[26][27] Marketing efforts emphasized the farewell motif, positioning the single as an emotional anthem tied directly to Maske's career culmination, with promotional materials and music videos highlighting the live boxing gala performance to evoke a sense of dramatic finality.[22]Commercial performance
The duet version of "Con te partirò", released as "Time to Say Goodbye", achieved unprecedented commercial success across Europe, far surpassing the solo version's more limited regional impact. In Germany, it debuted at number one on the Official German Charts on December 9, 1996, and held the top position for a record-breaking 12 consecutive weeks, remaining in the charts for a total of 48 weeks.[28][29][30] This performance made it the best-selling single in Germany at the time, a record it held until 2001, with over 3 million copies sold there alone.[31] Internationally, the single topped charts in several European countries, including France where it spent 11 weeks at number one, and reached the top 10 in nations such as Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two on the Official Singles Chart, spending 19 weeks in the top 40. Year-end charts reflected its dominance, topping the 1997 German year-end list and ranking among the decade's highest performers in multiple markets. All-time charts continue to place it highly, such as number one in Germany's all-time singles sales until surpassed in later years. Global sales exceeded 12 million copies, establishing it as one of the best-selling singles of all time. Certifications underscored this impact:| Region | Certification | Certified Units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 11× Gold (BVMI) | 2,750,000 |
| France | Diamond (SNEP) | 500,000 |
| United Kingdom | Platinum (BPI) | 600,000 |