Andrea Bocelli reveals he contracted Covid-19 before historic Easter concert
28 May 2020, 09:33 | Updated: 27 January 2022, 11:44
World-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli says he, and some members of his family, contracted coronavirus in March but didn’t tell anyone.
Andrea Bocelli has announced he and “certain members of his family” tested positive for Covid-19 in March, weeks before his historic Easter concert at Milan Cathedral.
The Italian tenor said he decided not to make his illness public “out of respect for those for whom contracting the virus has had more serious consequences”.
Bocelli revealed the news after paying a trip to hospital, to donate blood for Covid-19 research.
He posted on Facebook: “The pandemic which has shaken the world has also affected – albeit mildly – me and certain members of my family.
“Out of respect for those for whom contracting the virus has had more serious consequences, I decided it would be best not to share the news. I certainly didn’t want to unnecessarily alarm my fans and also wished to protect my family’s privacy.”
Read more: Andrea Bocelli and son Matteo perform ‘Fall On Me’ duet from home >
He continued: “We were fortunate enough to have a swift and full recovery by the end of March.
“Given the chance to donate blood to help find a cure for Covid, my response was an immediate ‘yes’. A modest – but fundamental – gesture, through which I am playing my small part.”
Bocelli lives with his wife and manager, Veronica Berti, and their daughter, Virginia, in Tuscany.
The singer added that he took a test, which came back positive, on 10 March. Speaking to journalists outside the hospital where he donated blood, Bocelli explained he had had no serious symptoms linked to the virus.
Read more: Andrea Bocelli’s Easter concert is largest classical live stream in history >
Watch as Andrea Bocelli sings in Milan's empty Duomo cathedral
Weeks after recovering from the virus, the legendary tenor went on to perform an Easter concert in a deserted Milan Cathedral. The ‘Music for Hope’ concert, in which Bocelli sang ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Amazing Grace’, became the largest classical live stream in YouTube history.
After the concert, Bocelli said: “It was an immeasurable honour and privilege to lend my voice to the prayers of millions of people, gathered in a single embrace.”
