Andrea Bocelli Live on Easter from Duomo Cathedral, Without Audience

Duomo Cathedral in Milan, like most churches around the world, will be closed on Sunday despite the Easter season. 

Bocelli's home country, Italy, is at the forefront of the nations with the most number of deaths due to COVID-19. Gatherings on public places and venues have been prohibited to prevent the spread of the phenomenal coronavirus.

Unlike his previous shows, the Italian singer will be doing the solo performance with empty seats. At the iconic Duomo Cathedral, empty pews will be Bocelli's audience. He will be accompanied only by Emanuele Vianelli, the cathedral organist. Sacred pieces "Ave Maria" and "Sancta Maria" will be part of the repertoire, according to Universal Music Group (UMG).

The American global music corporation, UMG, is joining hands with the City of Milan, the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, Sugar Music, and YouTube to bring virtual "Bocelli: Music for Hope" concert at the viewers' home anywhere in the world.

According to Bocelli, the invitation was extended to him by the City of Milan and the Duomo Cathedral. The mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, in his statement, said that Easter this year is unlike any other. The ongoing pandemic has troubled the joyous serenity that comes with the special day, he further said. Mayor Sala added that the great voice of Bocelli would be the "embrace we are missing these days, a strong, special hug" to warm the heart of Milan and the world.

The iconic tenor responded that it was his honor and was happy to accept the invitation to perform on the "day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs." He said in his statement that he believed in the strength of praying as one and in Christian Easter, "a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone - whether they are believers or not - truly needs right now."

According to UMG's release, Bocelli is performing pro-bono.

Click on the link for the concert on Sunday:

The tenor and his work on COVID-19

The Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) is very much involved in a fundraising campaign for COVID-19. The project aims to help hospitals in Italy procure instrumentation and equipment much needed by the health workers to protect them from coronavirus. The foundation was able to gather more than $140,000. Donations can be coursed through the GoFundMe campaign.

Bocelli will also be joining the special concert, "One World: Together at Home," a WHO/ Global Citizen joint project to be broadcasted on April 18.