The voice of renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli filled the Convention and Exhibition Centre last night in his first Hong Kong concert.
With his eyes closed and arms by his side, the blind artist stood beside conductor Marcello Rota before the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. Bocelli clenched his left fist as he hit the high notes. At the end of almost every song, he would smile and clasp Rota's hand.
Bocelli wore a sombre black suit and a shirt of the same colour, while blue and orange lighting played over him.
The one-night-only show consisted mostly of pieces from his classical albums, at the exclusion of songs from the popular crossover albums such as Romanza and Cieli Di Toscana. Instead, the audience heard Ave Maria from his Sacred Aria album and Verdi's Di Quella Pira from Il Trovatore. Bocelli alternated with solos by soprano Maria Luigia Borsi and unaccompanied pieces from the orchestra. He also performed some duets with Borsi.
The most expensive tickets, costing $3,888, are believed to have been the highest priced for a single concert of any kind in Hong Kong.
The prices did not put off 3,000 fans, including a host of officials, celebrities and socialites. They included Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan and Monetary Authority Chief Executive Joseph Yam Chi-kwong. 'I liked him even before he became famous,' Mr Tang said.