Coronavirus: Andrea Bocelli’s astonishing grace of Milan’s empty cathedral

Legendary Italian tenor Andre Bocelli has performed a haunting Easter concert from the empty steps of Milan’s largest church.

At 5 am Monday (New Zealand time), the singer broadcast the performance live on his YouTube channel from Milan’s Duomo Cathedral.

Bocelli performed various hymns from inside the cathedral with cathedral organist Emanuele Vianelli accompanying him, but it was a solo performance by Amazing grace from the empty steps of the largest church in Milan that distinguishes the concert.

“On the day that we celebrate confidence in a life that triumphs, I am honored to answer ‘yes’ to the invitation of the city and the Duomo of Milan,” Bocelli said in the presentation of the presentation.

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Standing alone, the imposing 640-year-old cathedral facade behind him, the 60-year-old tenor presented a haunting and melancholic rendition of the traditional American anthem (in the clip below begins at approximately 12:22 a.m.).

The clip is intertwined with images of empty streets of the three main cities from the closest places to Milan: London, New York and Paris.

Milan, the financial capital of the Italian region of Lombardy, has been the epicenter of Italy’s fight against Covid-19.

The region has reported more than 10,000 Covid-19 related deaths since February, more than half of all Covid-19 related deaths in Italy.

The city’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, asked Bocelli to perform in Milan at Easter, who anticipated a “very different” Easter in the devout Catholic country.

“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,” Sala said in a statement.

In the introduction to acting, Bocelli said he believed in the “strength of praying together.”

“I believe in Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone, whether they are believers or not, really needs right now,” said Bocelli’s introduction.

“Thanks to the music, broadcast live, bringing millions of hands together around the world, we will embrace the beating heart of the wounded world.”

The Andrea Bocelli Foundation has a GoFundMe emergency campaign to help hospitals buy equipment for Italian medical personnel.