In Response to COVID-19
Standing alone, the imposing facade of the 640 year old cathedral behind him, the 60-year-old tenor delivered a haunting, melancholy rendition of the traditional "Great Awakening" hymn (in the clip below it begins at about 18:40).
The clip is intercut with images of empty streets from the three major cities from around the most closely associated with Milan: London, New York and Paris
ANDREA BOCELLI/YOUTUBE
The mayor of Milan requested Bocelli's performance. The city has been the epicentre of Italy's fight against Covid-19.
Milan, the financial capital of Italy's Lombardy region, has been the epicentre 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.
ANDREA BOCELLI/YOUTUBE
Andrea Bocelli's performance is intercut with images of empty streets from Italy and around the world.
Bocelli was asked to perform in Milan at Easter by the city's mayor Giuseppe Sala who anticipated a "very different" Easter in the devoutly Catholic country.
"I am sure that the extraordinary voice of Bocelli will be the embrace we are missing these days, a strong, special hug, capable of warming the heart of Milan, Italy and the world," Sala said in a statement.
In the introduction to the performance Bocelli said he believed in the "strength of praying together".
CATHEDRAL ORGANIST EMANUELE VIANELLI
Andre Bocelli and Cathedral organist Emanuele Vianelli perform from inside the empty cathedral.
"I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone, whether they are believers or not, truly needs right now," Bocelli's introduction said.
"Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug the wounded world's pulsing heart."
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation has an emergency GoFundMe campaign to help hospitals purchase equipment for Italian medical staff.
ANDREA BOCELLI/YOUTUBE
Andrea Bocelli delivers a haunting rendition of Amazing Grace from the steps of Milan's Duomo cathedral.
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