Italian tenor and opera singer Andrea Bocelli sings during a rehearsal on a deserted Piazza del Duomo in central Milan on April 12, 2020, prior to an evening performance without public for the world wounded by the pandemic, during the country’s lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Image: AFP/Piero Cruciatti
World-renowned Italian singer Andrea Bocelli performed on Easter Sunday in a deserted Duomo di Milano, which has been closed for months as Northern Italy is on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bocelli performed renditions of “Panis Angelicus”, “Ave Maria”, “Sancta Maria” and “Domine Deus” and “Amazing Grace”, as he was solely accompanied by Emanuele Vianelli on one of the world’s largest pipe organs.
More than 3.4 million viewers tuned in on YouTube during “Music For Hope – Live From Duomo di Milano”, with Universal Music announcing that the performance drew the largest simultaneous classical audience for a classical music event ever.
Additionally, the 25-minute concert attracted more than 28 million views worldwide in its first 24 hours on YouTube, also trending at number one in North America, Italy, the United Kingdom and across Latin America.
“I am moved and delighted to have received such an overwhelming reaction, that has gone beyond our highest expectations. It was an immeasurable honor and privilege to lend my voice to the prayers of millions of people, gathered in a single embrace; a small, great miracle of which the whole world was the protagonist and which confirms my optimism about the future of our planet,” Bocelli said of the ever-growing popularity of “Music For Hope,” which has now drawn over 36 million viewers.
The headline-making event also drew millions to listen to Bocelli’s catalogue on streaming services in recent days.
Nielsen Music/MRC Data has reported that his songs generated 6.7 millions streams on Easter Sunday in the United States, marking an increase of 424% compared to the 1.3 million they amassed on April 11.
Bocelli’s most-streamed songs include his duet with his son Matteo, entitled “Fall On Me”, as well as “Time to Say Goodbye”, which respectively tallied 753,000 and 671,000 streams on April 12. JB
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