Andrea Bocelli, one of the most celebrated tenors the world has ever laid eyes upon, was asked and given permission by the by Archpriest Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo and City of Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala, and gave a live-streamed performance in front on Easter Sunday.
The message he wanted to convey to the world was that of ‘love, healing and hope’ to Italy suffering in major terms from the coronavirus crisis. The classical singer, aged 61, sang in a vacant cathedral with only the organist by his side, but the message spread through the live stream, giving not only Italians, but every one of those in quarantine the best visual and hearing experience, all in all 3.4 million jostling in for the viewing.
The church, as all facilities and religious sites are being ordered to do in Italy, is closed for the foreseeable future but the singer and the organist Emanuele Vianelli was granted permission for the sheer significance the performance was expected to bring.
The outbreak has killed 19,899 and infecting more than 150,000 in Italy since the outbreak. But Italians are certainly crossing their fingers for grace of God and hope as the supposed peak seems to have passed, 431 new cases, were reported on Sunday – the lowest they’ve seen in a while.
Facilitated by Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, Bocelli was accompanied by Duomo di Milano’s very own organist while performing the holy numbers from the selected canons of Ave Maria and Sancta Maria. Viewers were quick to express their feelings on social media:
One Twitter account fan has tweeted: ‘I can’t help crying at the heartbreaking beauty of Andrea Bocelli alone in the great duomo, only empty seats in front of him. This moment in history is magnificent and utterly sad. Siamo con te, Italia,’ while others went on:
‘Andrea Bocelli sang Amazing Grace just outside Duomo di Milano a few minutes ago. It was mesmerising,’
‘Holy cow. Andrea Bocelli’s Amazing Grace just now was one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever seen. Incredibly moving.’ Thanking the tenor, one viewer tweeted: ‘Andrea Bocelli singing alone inside Milan’s empty Duomo is heartbreaking but so powerful and uplifting. Grazie #MUSICFORHOPE.’
Bocelli said, pre-performance:
‘On the day on which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honoured and happy to answer “Sì” to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan.’ The opera singer added: ‘I believe in the strength of praying together; I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone – whether they are believers or not – truly needs right now.
‘Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug this wounded Earth’s pulsing heart, this wonderful international forge that is reason for Italian pride. ‘The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and the whole of Italy will be again, and very soon, a winning model, engine of a renaissance that we all hope for.
You can see the video here.
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Replaced!