Culture & Education | Tuesday 4 February, 2020 11:00 am |

World-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli performed at Maraya Concert Hall this weekend during the Winter At Tantora Festival in AlUla. The festival is organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and offers a variety of cultural and artistic events inspired by AlUla's heritage which dates back thousands of years. Bocelli serenaded an audience who flew in from various regions in the Kingdom and neighbouring countries.

 

Bocelli performed several of his greatest hits which won him international recognition, including Overture, La Donna è Mobile, Di Quella Pira, and Donna Non Vidi Mai.

 

The international artist praised the efforts of the Royal Commission for AlUla after visiting several museums, as well as archaeological and historical sites, in the governorate with his family. There, he was immersed in local culture and introduces to the various events that the Winter at Tantora Festival has to offer.

 

Against the backdrop of the picturesque nature of AlUla, the concert took place at Maraya Concert Hall, the largest theatre constructed with mirrors in the world. It represents a modern architectural masterpiece and can accommodate five-hundred guests and provides a high-quality sound system. The festival also houses many other diverse activities including the local markets, winter garden, farms, and the old town.

 

Andrea Bocelli is an Italian opera singer, songwriter, and record producer. A well-known crossover performer, Bocelli is credit with attracting a variety of audiences to classical music and opera. He was interested in music at an early age and began to learn to play the piano at the tender age of six and later learned to play the flute and the saxophone.

 

In addition to his collaborative works with international musicians, Bocelli released over 16 studio albums and was awarded the Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; one of the highest honours one can receive in Italy. 

 

Alongside his many achievements, Bocelli received Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist in 1999, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his song "Sogno" in 2000, as well as Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for his song "The Prayer. More recently, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in November of 2019 for his album Si (Decca/Sugar). The album also earned him his first #1 Billboard record and has, to date, surpassed sales of 1 MM globally. Over the course of 12 weeks, the festival will present a variety of activities that merge Eastern and Western culture, embodying AlUla's heritage as a meeting point for different civilisations from around the world throughout history. 

 

Winter at Tantora Festival offers a wide range of diverse experiences that cater to all tastes from all walks of life. The festival will take place every weekend starting 19th December 2019, and running until the 7th March 2020. Guests this year will have the unique opportunity to visit the historical heritage sites before they are closed to the general public until October 2020. They will also be able to attend musical and artistic performances by some of the most respected artists in the Arab and international world.

 

For more information, and to book your spot at the concerts and participate in various events at the festival, please visit: www.book.experiencealula.com