BOCELLI SETS
A RECORD

Andrea Bocelli’s breathtaking solo concert at Milan’s Duomo on Easter Sunday has been confirmed as the biggest live-streamed classical music event of all time. It had 5m people tuning in globally to the livestream on YouTube, where it has now racked up over 35m views and counting.

The solo concert, titled Music for Hope, continues to trend globally across YouTube and social media platforms. During the past 48 hours, it topped the trending chart across the U.S., U.K., Italy, Canada and throughout Latin America.

Said Bocelli of the success: “I am moved and delighted to have received such an overwhelming reaction, that has gone beyond our highest expectations. It was an immeasurable honor 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.”

Music for Hope was produced by Sugar Music, Universal Music Group and Decca Records, thanks to the "generous contribution of YouTube." Bocelli’s participation was entirely pro bono (in collaboration with his business management company Almud and Maverick Management).

“On Sunday, the music of Andrea Bocelli provided a balm to the soul of the world,” said Dickon Stainer, President and CEO of Global Classics & Jazz at Universal Music Group. “The event was a demonstration of remarkable teamwork. Universal Music and Decca Records are honored to have played our part."

Props go to Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala, who came up with the idea, President of Sugar Music Filippo Sugar, President of Decca Records Rebecca Allen, Dickon Stainer, President and CEO of UMG's Global Classics & Jazz, and Dan Chalmers, Head of Music EMEA at YouTube. Not forgetting Bocelli’s management, Francesco Pasquero and Scott Rodger of Maverick Management.

Filippo Sugar said 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."

Maverick's Pasquero and Rodger said the 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.”

If you missed it, may we highly recommend you rectify that by viewing the clip below.