Coronavirus, Andrea Bocelli concert in the deserted Milan Cathedral: “A prayer with millions of voices”

A collective hug to all the great capitals of the world in lockdown for the Coronavirus that comes from the Duomo of Milan through the song of Andrea Bocelli. The tenor’s concert, heard on the finale by 2.7 million viewers live on Youtube, ended on the notes of Amazing Grace, the only song sung outside, with the solitary and majestic cathedral behind it.The message of hope of the words of the song (“Through many dangers, pitfalls and labors I passed / Grace has led me safely to here / and Grace will lead me home”) is accompanied by images of the deserted streets of Paris, London and New York, some of the capitals most affected by covid19.
“I believe in the strength to pray together and I believe in Christian Easter, a symbol of a rebirth that everyone, believers and non-believers, now needs. The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and Italy will all be again, very soon, a winning model , the engine of a Renaissance that we all hope for, “said the artist in a message also translated into English.The performance, promoted by the city of Milan and the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, was produced and curated by Sugar Music and Universal Music. Five tracks in the lineup: Panis Angelicus (César Franck) Ave Maria (Johann Sebastian Bach), Sancta Maria (Pietro Mascagni), Domine Deus (Gioacchino Rossini) and Amazing grace (John Newton).

“I will cherish the emotion of this unprecedented and profound experience, of this Holy Easter which the emergency made painful, but at the same time even more fruitful, among the most dear memories ever”. These are the words of the singer at the end of the concert.

“That feeling of being alone at the same time, as we all are, in the presence of the Most High – said Bocelli – and yet expressing the voice of the prayer of millions of voices, has deeply affected and moved me. Love is a gift . Making it flow is the primary purpose of life itself. And with life, once again, I am in debt. My gratitude goes to those who conceived this opportunity, the Municipality of Milan and the Duomo, and to all those who welcomed the invitation and they joined in a planetary embrace, gathering that blessing from Heaven which gives us courage, trust, optimism, in the certainty of faith “.