“Con Te Partirò”, internationally known as “Time to Say Goodbye” and in Spanish as “Por Ti Volaré”, is one of the most iconic pieces of contemporary classical and operatic pop music. The song was composed by Francesco Sartori, with original Italian lyrics written by Lucio Quarantotto.
The song was originally released in 1995 as part of Bocelli, the debut album of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. While the initial Italian release achieved modest success, the song soon reached worldwide fame.
Andrea Bocelli made the song famous, especially after performing a duet version with Sarah Brightman in 1996, adapted into English as “Time to Say Goodbye.” This version gained massive international exposure when it was used as the farewell theme for German boxer Henry Maske, leading to extraordinary success across Europe, particularly in Germany and the United Kingdom, where it became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
In terms of accolades, the song received numerous platinum and gold certifications worldwide, establishing itself as a modern classic, although it did not win major awards such as a Grammy or an Academy Award.
Over the years, other artists have helped keep the song popular, including performances by Katherine Jenkins, Sergio Mella, Il Divo, and various international classical crossover artists at major global events.