Andrea Bocelli captivates viewers with 'mesmerising' show from empty cathedral

The 61-year-old Italian tenor captivated listeners around the globe after he was granted exclusive access to perform from the otherwise locked down building.

Andrea, who is blind, wore a black bow tie and suit as he performed mesmerising songs such as Ave Maria and Sancta Maria.

Speaking before the performance, Andrea explained that the performance marked a particularly powerful response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“I received this invitation by the mayor of Milan and by the authorities of the church and of course I answered yes. I’m very happy to do this.

“Also, it’s not a performance. It’s not a concert. It’s only a prayer.”

People who tuned in to listen to the magical show were utterly captivated by the emotionally-charged performance.

“This opening to Andrea Bocelli’s performance from the empty Duomo cathedral is a masterclass in storytelling. ‘We will hug this earth’s wounded heart’. Simple. Profound,” wrote one Twitter fan. 

“Andrea Bocelli sang Amazing Grace just outside Duomo di Milano a few minutes ago. It was mesmerising,” wrote another.

Another posted: “One of the most powerful moments I’ve ever witnessed in my life: Andrea Bocelli singing Amazing Grace to an empty Duomo Cathedral plaza in Milan with a message of hope on Easter Sunday for all those affected globally by the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak #MusicForHope.”

Among the inspiring messages that were conjured as a result of the Music For Hope concert, there were also some thoughts from unlikely celebrity fans.

Among the star-studded viewers who were touched by the performance was Kim Kardashian, who shared the clip on her Twitter.

“A prayer for our world from @AndreaBocelli,” she wrote.

Actor Hugh Jackman also shared a thought after watching the performance, thanking Andrea for his “tremendous gift”.

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