By Dr. Ann Kearney-Cooke
Andrea Bocelli, a legendary opera singer, streamed a live performance titled “Music For Hope – Live From Duomo di Milano: a concert to send love, healing, and hope during this global health crisis.” Performed on Easter Sunday, he began with a meditation about the concert and his spiritual connection to the Easter holiday.
“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.”
Having seen Andrea Bocelli in a sold-out concert in Cincinnati last year, it was almost surreal to see him singing alone in the magnificent Duomo in Milan. He sang four spiritual songs, including Ave Maria, and then solemnly walked outside to the cathedral square where he sang a powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace”.
The combination of his breathtaking voice along with the drone shots showing the vast isolation of empty waterways and deserted streets of New York, Paris, London, and Milan moved me to tears. The fear and sadness about what is happening during these uncertain times began to surface. I began to pray the way I did as a child. I said prayers for my family, friends, patients, and those sick with COVID-19. I prayed for blessings for our entire human family. I experienced hope that if we can get through this together it may bring us together.
By the end of the concert, I felt more peaceful and hopeful that this major disruption to normal life may bring much-needed changes in the way we live. I was confident that everything was going to be okay, that this is a temporary situation, and this can be a time to pause, breathe, and reflect. This concert enabled me to experience a spiritual rebirth and learn the mystical power of intention and music.
Did you see the concert too? What impact did it have on you? Let me know in the comments!
