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OPERA legend Andrea Bocelli left fans around the world crying with a “fascinating” performance in Milan’s empty Duomo cathedral.
An incredible 3.4 million people tuned in to watch the singer’s ‘Music for Hope’ concert, which sent a message of ‘love, healing and hope’ to Italy and the rest of the world in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
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Although the famous Duomo cathedral is closed due to the pandemic, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala and Archbishop Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo granted him exclusive access to Bocelli.
He was accompanied by cathedral organist Emanuele Vianelli, and made a selection of pieces including Ave Maria and Amazing Grace.
Bocelli, one of the world’s most famous tenor singers, hoped to bring people together through the concert he described as more of a “prayer” than a performance.
Viewers flocked to social media in amazement at Bocelli’s performance, which aired live on his YouTube channel at 5 p.m.
One user wrote: “Listening to @AndreaBocelli always gives me the chills and makes me cry. Her voice is so powerful!”
And another added: “@AndreaBocelli touched my heart. I cried for Italy and the whole world.”
Italy has been devastated by the coronavirus, with 19,899 deaths and more than 150,000 infected.
But the country’s death rate recently started to drop, rising to 431 deaths on Sunday, from 691 the day before.
The figure is the lowest number of daily deaths recorded in the country since March 19, giving Italians a glimmer of hope that the peak of the epidemic has passed.
The daily increase in coronavirus cases in the country also slowed to 4,092 from 4,694 previously.
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Bocelli, 61, also started a fundraiser to help hospitals buy protective equipment for medical personnel during the pandemic, which has so far raised € 200,000.
Speaking before his performance, he said he was “honored” to perform for the city of Milan and the Italian people.
He said, “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 at this time.
“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.”
This morning, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte celebrated Easter Sunday thanking people for their sacrifices in the fight against the virus.
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He also recognized that many families are suffering the loss of their loved ones as they celebrate Easter with empty places on the table.
“Together we will make it,” Conte said in a Facebook post.
Authorities also noted that Italy has increased its testing capacity in recent days, producing more positive cases but allowing more effective quarantine measures for people once they know they are infected.
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Italy crossed the one million virus test mark on Sunday, doubling the number of tests since the end of March.
And Italy is now considering plans to ease closure restrictions, despite health experts warning it would be “a dangerous thing.”
Stores and businesses could reopen on April 13, and Italians could leave and return to work starting May 4, reportedly.
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