Despite how millions of Italian families were quarantined inside their homes on Easter Sunday, famed opera singer Andrea Bocelli accepted an invitation to perform a livestreamed holiday concert as a musical message of hope for the world.
As a means of respecting social distancing, Bocelli was filmed singing to an empty Duomo di Milano—the largest cathedral in the country—as it was devoid of any spectators save for the cathedral organist.
“On the day we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘si,’ to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan,” Bocelli said during the intro of the video. “Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug this wounded Earth’s pulsing heart.”
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Bocelli then offered tear-jerking renditions of “Panis Angelicus,” “Ave Maria,” “Sancta Maria,” “Domine Deus,” and finally, an a cappella version of “Amazing Grace”.
Since the video was broadcasted yesterday afternoon, it has been viewed more than 27 million times.
The 61-year-old singer—who has been blind since age 12—also used the “Music for Hope: Live From Duomo di Milano” concert as a means of raising thousands of dollars for healthcare workers fighting COVID-19.
Over the course of the last three weeks leading up to the concert, the Andrea Bocelli Foundation has managed to raise €230,400 ($250,000) on their GoFundMe page for Italian medial teams.
This is just one of many positive stories and updates that are coming out of the COVID-19 news coverage this week. For more uplifting coverage on the outbreaks, click here.
(WATCH the breathtaking concert below)
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