Watch: Andrea Bocelli Performs Easter Concert In Front Of Empty Milan Cathedral

Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed an Easter concert on Sunday evening to an empty cathedral, though his message of unity was felt by millions around the world via live stream.

Bocelli sang “Amazing Grace,” “Ave Maria,” “Panis Angelicus,” “Sancta Maria” and “Domine Deus” as the camera panned around the empty pews of the famous Duomo di Milano. The duomo was empty because of the social distancing rules in effect in Italy to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Bocelli performed the concert, titled “Music For Hope,” accompanied only by the cathedral’s organist, Emanuele Vianelli.

The recording of the concert, which reached No. 1 on the YouTube trending page Monday afternoon, begins with a few words from Bocelli and drone shots of the empty streets of Milan.

“On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan,” he said.

“I believe in the strength of praying together. I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone, whether they are believers or not, truly needs right now,” he continued. He also hoped for Italy’s recovery, as it is one of the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus.

“The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and the whole of Italy will be again, and very soon, a winning model engine of a renaissance that we all hope for.”

The country has the second highest death toll in the world, only after the United States. Italy has had 159,516 people test positive for COVID-19 and 20,465 deaths as of Monday evening.

Watch the concert above.