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The moving live concert Music For Hope by opera singer Andrea Bocelli was watched by 26,759,898 people when it aired on Easter Sunday.
Bocelli’s concert aimed to send “love, healing and hope” to Italy in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
The 61-year-old left viewers around the world crying as they watched him perform from the Duomo di Milano desert.
Powerful: Andrea Bocelli’s poignant Live Music For Hope concert was seen by nearly 27 million people performing from the Duomo di Milano desert on Easter Sunday
Sending love: The 61-year-old tenor stood in the deserted Duomo cathedral while acting for the YouTube clip amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Emotion-laden fans praised Bocelli’s powerful social media performance as “moving, fascinating, and magnificent.”
Bocelli was granted exclusive access to the Milan Cathedral, currently closed, by Archbishop Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo and Mayor Giuseppe Sala.
The church has been closed in the midst of the pandemic, but opened exclusively for opera star and organist Emanuele Vianelli.
The outbreak has been unleashed across Italy, particularly in the northern Lombardy region, killing 19,899 and infecting more than 150,000 since it occurred.
But Italians hope they have passed the peak as 431 new deaths were reported by the civil protection service on Sunday, the lowest since March 19.
The event was organized by Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, a 600-year-old organization that oversees the building.
For his performance, Bocelli was accompanied by the organist of the Duomo di Milano, Vianelli, while playing Ave Maria and Sancta Maria.
Viewers from around the world flocked to social media to express their gratitude to the singer, who delivered one of his most iconic performances to date.
Iconic: Italian opera singer left viewers around the world crying when nearly 27 million people watched his Music For Hope concert live from the Duomo di Milano desert
Deserted: Milan Cathedral is currently closed amid pandemic, but opened exclusively for Bocelli and organist Emanuel only
A concert for everyone: The footage was streamed live to his YouTube channel and will be released digitally on audio streaming services in a matter of hours.
‘I can’t help but cry at the heartbreaking beauty of Andrea Bocelli alone in the grand duomo, just empty seats in front of him. This moment in history is magnificent and completely sad. Siamo con te, Italia, ‘wrote one person.
Andrea Bocelli sang Amazing Grace outside the Duomo di Milano a few minutes ago. It was fascinating, ‘another tweeted.
Someone else admitted: “Holy cow. Amazing Grace by Andrea Bocelli was one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen. Incredibly moving.
Thanking the tenor, a viewer tweeted: ‘Andrea Bocelli singing alone inside Milan’s empty Duomo is heartbreaking but so powerful and inspiring. Grazie #MUSICFORHOPE “.
Quiet: The Italian singer paused for a moment of quiet reflection before his performance on Easter Sunday
High Praise: Coming to social media en masse, emotionally charged fans praised Bocelli’s powerful performance as: “Touching, mesmerizing, and magnificent!”
Before his performance, Bocelli looked solemn as he was photographed in the impressive cathedral, wearing an elegant black suit complete with bow tie.
The tenor was without an audience due to Italy’s blockade and government regulations surrounding COVID-19, but the footage was streamed live to its YouTube channel, and will be released digitally on audio streaming services in a matter of hours.
Speaking before his performance, Bocelli said: “On the day that we celebrate confidence in a life that succeeds, I am honored and happy to respond” Yes “to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan.
Before his performance: Bocelli looked solemn as he was photographed in the impressive cathedral, wearing an elegant black suit complete with bow tie
The opera singer added: “I believe in the strength to pray together; I believe in Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone, whether they are believers or not, really needs right now.
‘Thanks to the music, broadcast live, bringing millions of hands together around the world, we will embrace the beating heart of this wounded Earth, this wonderful international forge that is a source of Italian pride.
“Generous, courageous and proactive Milan and all of Italy will soon become a winning model, the engine of a renaissance that we all hope for.”
Devastating times: So far, Italy has seen 19,468 deaths and 152,271 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Bocelli is also currently a fundraising foundation to raise money for hospitals.
Special: Andrea received exclusive access to the Milan Cathedral currently closed by the Archpriest, Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo, and the Mayor, Giuseppe Sala
“It will be a pleasure to witness it, in the Duomo, during the Easter celebration that evokes the mystery of birth and rebirth.”
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said: ‘I am happy that Andrea has accepted our invitation. This year Easter will be very different for all of us.
‘The joyous serenity that generally comes with this day has been very concerned about the pandemic we are experiencing.
Performance: Bocelli was accompanied by the organizer of the Duomo di Milano, Emanuele Vianelli, to interpret artists such as Ave Maria and Sancta Maria.
Virtual Embrace: “We will embrace the beating heart of this wounded Earth,” said the superstar singer before his incredibly unique performance.
“I am sure that Bocelli’s extraordinary voice will be the hug that we lack these days, a strong and special hug, capable of warming the heart of Milan, Italy and the world.”
The Archpriest of the Duomo di Milano, Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo, added: ‘Our’ Hallelujah ‘is an invitation that we placed on the ark forty days ago and that the flood, which has overwhelmed us all, almost made us forget the joy of expressing it in Easter Day.
‘Andrea Bocelli’s voice and word remind us that the reason for our hope does not come from us, but is a gift that comes from God.
Blockade: Bocelli was without a hearing due to the blockade of Italy and the government regulations surrounding COVID-19 (the police appear on Monday in front of the Milan cathedral)
‘This is what it means to promote, from our Duomo, the home of the people of Milan, and through the voice of Bocelli, the confidence that the Spirit of the Risen Crucifix will help us shape the days that are given to us in the Kingdom of Him who wanted a new humanity, united and fraternal.
In addition to the special concert, Bocelli is also raising funds with his Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) at GoFundMe to raise money for hospitals to protect their medical staff with equipment during the COVID-19 emergency.
So far, Italy has seen 19,468 deaths and 152,271 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Bocelli’s special Easter concert live aired on his YouTube channel starting at 6 p.m. UK time on Sunday.
Watch it: Bocelli’s special Easter concert live was available to stream on his YouTube channel starting at 6 p.m. UK time on Sunday
