Andrea Bocelli sings live at Milan’s Duomo Cathedral on Easter

Andrea Bocelli gave a special live performance at the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy on Easter Sunday.

The Italian opera singer, however, had no audience. The concert was live-streamed on Bocelli’s YouTube channel as part of an effort to bring people together amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bocelli was joined by the cathedral organist Emanuele Vianelli on one of world's largest pipe organs.

After opening with “Panis Angelicus,” the opera singer also rendered religious classics like “Ave Maria” and “Sancta Maria” in the cathedral’s historic splendor.

The global COVID-19 death toll breached the 100,000 mark on Friday, and Italy is one of the worst-hit nations in Europe.

The country had reported at least 500,000 infections, while the death toll was more than 18,000.

At the invitation of the Milan government, Bocelli decided to give a heartfelt performance at the Duomo, which is a symbol of the city.

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

“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 added. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News