Andrea Bocelli’s Easter Livestream Concert Draws 28 Million Views in First 24 Hours
By Variety Staff
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Andrea Bocelli’s emotionally charged livestreamed Easter Sunday concert broke multiple records, drawing more than 28 million views in its first 24 hours and, with 2.8 million peak concurrent viewers, the biggest live-streamed classical music event of all time. The 30-minute performance has now been viewed in excess of 35 million times since Sunday evening.
According to YouTube, which exclusively streamed the concert from the Duomo in coronavirus-stricken Milan, Italy, the concert was one of the biggest musical live stream performances of all time, noting that even prior to the stream beginning, more than 1 million viewers were present in the waiting room.
(Read Variety‘s behind-the-scenes article about the concert here .)
Bocelli’s performance has since been covered in more than 100 countries worldwide, and continues to trend globally across YouTube and social media platforms. By Wednesday morning (ET), it had reached No. 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, Panamá, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Brazil.
Milan remains under coronavirus lockdown, which made the livestream a formidable 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 recording was released digitally on audio streaming services within hours.
Andrea Bocelli explains: “I am moved and delighted to have received such an overwhelming reaction, that has gone beyond our highest expectations. For an artist, yesterday’s 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 – a small, great miracle of which the whole world was the protagonist and which confirms my optimism about the future of our planet. 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.”
Accompanied only by the organist, Emanuele Vianelli, Bocelli sang a carefully chosen selection of pieces, specially arranged for solo voice and organ for the occasion. Bocelli brought the recital to a close with “Amazing Grace,” for which he was shown making his way out of the cathedral, in silence, and onto the steps facing a totally deserted piazza– to sing the first verse completely unaccompanied.
“Music has the power to unite communities from around the world in the most unique and momentous ways. In such an unprecedented time, it’s 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’s performance on such a historic day in time,” said Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music.
Dickon Stainer, President and CEO of Global Classics & Jazz, Universal Music Group, commented: “On 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.”
“The success of ‘Music for Hope’ 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’s event,” said Filippo Sugar, President of Sugar Music.
Maverick Management’s Francesco Pasquero and Scott Rodger added: “Andrea 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’s 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.”
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 equipment necessary to protect their medical staff. It is possible to donate through the GoFundMe campaign: or by contacting the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, by writing to development@andreabocellifoundation.org.
