The Italian tenor Andréa Bocelli is eagerly awaited in Lourdes on July 16. He will perform during an exceptional and free concert, on the esplanade of the sanctuary of Lourdes, with the Orchester de Pau Pays de Béarn.
Andréa Bocelli, Italian tenor known throughout the world for an extraordinary voice continues his tour. After singing at the sanctuaries of Fatima in Portugal, or Aparecida in Brazil, the singer is packing his bags in the Marian city for the first time in his career. In a video posted on the sanctuary’s social networks, the singer recalls his first trip to Lourdes at the age of 8 with his mother and grandmother: “the only time I was able to visit this holy place” .
On the program, a concert accompanied by the Orchester de Pau Pays de Béarn, conducted by Carlo Bernini. He will also be joined by Ukrainian violinist Anastasiya Petryshak and French soprano Clara Barbier Serrano. A moment that will allow everyone to discover or rediscover the repertoire of sacred music. The rector of the sanctuary, affirms: “the involvement of the orchestra is very precious and allows to start the whole region and beyond…” An invitation was sent to François Bayrou, mayor of Pau , to attend the concert, as well as other elected officials of the department.
At the origin of the event, a Brazilian production “Dançar Marketing” directed by Pedro Bianco. The latter shares his joy: “it’s a great honor to be in Lourdes, the concert will touch many more people than those present”. On the side of the sanctuary, the rector assures “having responded with great joy to the invitation of Pedro Bianco, and we are very honored by this evening with Andréa Bocelli!”
A free concert open to all
The concert is called “Prayers for Life”, and dedicated in particular to the victims of the COVID pandemic. The date of July 16 was not chosen at random, marking the 165th anniversary of the last Marian apparition to Bernadette Soubirous.
Entrance is free and open to all, the concert will take place after the torchlight procession at 8:30 p.m. Andréa Bocelli will enter the stage around 9:30 p.m., on the esplanade of the sanctuary, for a hour. The placement is free standing. It is possible to bring a folding chair. “We wanted a single and unique event” underlines Michel Daubanes, so that the procession and the concert are two parts of the same unique moment.
At least 10,000 people are expected for the event. “There will be at least 530 patients in the front row,” confides the rector. But despite a large number of spectators, the sanctuary of Lourdes also wants to reassure about the planned security, which has been reinforced. “The issue of security has occupied all the teams for some time,” assures Michel Daubanes. For the Brazilian organization: “The public is there to pray, we are not afraid for security.”
One thing is certain: the organization seems well-established, the stage installation has already been set up, and rehearsals have been going on for the past few days.
2023-07-16 01:22:54
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