{"id":61509,"date":"2020-04-15T13:06:53","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T12:06:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=61509"},"modified":"2020-04-15T11:54:19","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T10:54:19","slug":"andrea-bocelli-breaks-multiple-records-with-biggest-live-streamed-classical-event-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2020\/04\/andrea-bocelli-breaks-multiple-records-with-biggest-live-streamed-classical-event-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrea Bocelli Breaks Multiple Records With Biggest Live-Streamed Classical Event Of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Easter Sunday (April 12), in a moment that made the world stand still, Italian tenor\u00a0Andrea Bocelli\u00a0broke multiple records with an emotionally-charged solo performance, streamed exclusively live via YouTube from the Duomo in Milan.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This historic event reached over 2.8 million peak concurrent viewers, making it one of the biggest musical live stream performances of all-time and the largest simultaneous audience for a classical live stream in YouTube history. The video received more than 28 million views from across the globe in its first 24 hours. Even prior to the stream beginning, more than 1 million viewers were present in the waiting room, in anticipation of the performance.<\/p>\n

Bocelli\u2019s extraordinary \u2018Music For Hope\u2019 performance has since been covered in more than 100 countries worldwide, and continues to trend globally across YouTube and social media platforms. During the past 48 hours, it reached #1 Trending on YouTube across U.S., U.K., Italy, Canada and throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panam\u00e1, Peru,\u00a0Paraguay, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Brazil. You can watch the Livestream here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These staggering figures make this event\u00a0the biggest live-streamed classical music event of all time, as millions of all-ages and backgrounds, joined together remotely around the world for\u00a0this\u00a0special 30-minute Easter Sunday broadcast. The performance has now been viewed in excess of 35 million times since Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

The event was a moving delivery of an inspiring programme of sacred music, amid the stillness of a city under continued lockdown. But behind the scenes it was a remarkable technical feat to film and record the concert within the restrictions, as well as the time pressure to make the audio and footage available for access immediately afterwards. The aim was to deliver an\u00a0uplifting message of love, healing and hope to the public through music, at a time when it was most needed \u2013 and it did just that. The recording was released digitally on audio streaming services within hours.<\/p>\n

Andrea Bocelli\u00a0explains:<\/p>\n

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\u201cI am moved and delighted to have received such an overwhelming reaction, that has gone beyond our highest expectations. For an artist, yesterday\u2019s event is the reason for the sacrifices of a lifetime; for a believer and a Catholic as I am, it was further confirmation of the benevolent smile with which the Heavenly Father looks to his children. It was an immeasurable honour and privilege to lend my voice to the prayers of millions of people, gathered in a single embrace \u2013 a small, great miracle of which the whole world was the protagonist and which confirms my optimism about the future of our planet.\u00a0 Thanks to everyone who worked in the shadows for weeks, from management to the record label, and especially to all of those who have shared this moment with us, to stay truly united.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Accompanied only by the organist, Emanuele Vianelli, Bocelli\u00a0sang\u00a0a carefully chosen selection of pieces, specially arranged for solo voice and organ for the occasion. This included the beloved Bach\/Gounod setting of\u00a0Ave Maria\u00a0and\u00a0Franck\u2019s\u00a0Panis Angelicus.\u00a0Bocelli brought the\u00a0stirring recital\u00a0to a close with\u00a0Amazing Grace,\u00a0for which he was shown making his way out of the cathedral, in silence, and onto the steps facing a totally deserted piazza \u2013 an\u00a0unprecedented\u00a0sight for the\u00a0national and international landmark \u2013 to\u00a0sing the first verse completely unaccompanied.\u00a0This was a moment of unforgettable poignancy.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMusic has the power to unite communities from around the world in the most unique and momentous ways. In such an unprecedented time, it\u2019s critical we rally together and continue connecting through music. YouTube is honored to have played a role in making sure the world could to come together, as one music family, to see, hear and listen to Andrea Bocelli\u2019s performance on such a historic day in time,\u201d said Lyor Cohen, YouTube\u2019s Global Head of Music.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Dickon Stainer, President and CEO of Global Classics & Jazz, Universal Music Group, commented:<\/p>\n

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\u201cOn Sunday, the music of Andrea Bocelli provided a balm to the soul of the world. The event was a demonstration of remarkable teamwork. Universal Music and Decca Records are honoured to have played our part.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe success of \u2018Music for Hope\u2019 demonstrates the desire that everybody in the world has today to share a moment of prayer and hope. Andrea’s voice has become an opportunity for all of the world to embrace in this difficult time. No barriers, but bridges of human love and solidarity. This is the essence of Sunday\u2019s event,\u201d said Filippo Sugar, President of Sugar Music.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Maverick Management\u2019s Francesco Pasquero and Scott Rodger added:<\/p>\n

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\u201cAndrea Bocelli has shown that during this global crisis the power of his voice has the ability to unite people, regardless of faith or background, in solidarity with his message of hope. This project has been an extraordinary coming together of the key collaborators in Andrea\u2019s world across his wife Veronica and his family, management, labels, and YouTube, showing that by acting as one the music community will get though these challenging times.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The event, which was by invitation of the City and of the cathedral, was promoted by the City of Milan and the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, produced by Sugar Music, Universal Music Group & Decca Records,\u00a0thanks to the generous contribution of YouTube. Andrea Bocelli\u2019s participation\u00a0was\u00a0entirely pro-bono (in collaboration with Almud and Maverick Management).<\/p>\n

Bocelli, with the Foundation that carries his name, is currently involved in an emergency COVID-19 campaign. The Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) has started a fundraiser to help hospitals purchase all the instruments and\u00a0equipment necessary to protect their medical staff. It is possible to donate through the GoFundMe campaign<\/a>, or by contacting the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, by emailing here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Andrea