What a night.

Last night, a ‘Celebration of Peace’ stunned a partly-filled auditorium at Dubai Opera. Where Israeli delegations joined the audience and for the first time, Israeli performers wowed a UAE crowd.

“For many years, we’ve been disconnected, how can we work together if we don’t understand our cultures?”

Israeli singer-songwriter Idan Raichel performed alongside Nadreen Qadri and a host of performers before the guest of honour, Maestro Andrea Bocelli took to the stage alongside Soprano Talia Or.

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The crowd stood still when Andrea Bocelli took to the stage

Did this just happen. Stunning performance by Andrea Bocelli and Jewish composer Idan Raichel sharing a stage in Dubai for 'A Celebration of Peace' #lovindubai @DubaiOpera pic.twitter.com/g4NKgCRAqu

— Lovin Dubai | لوڤن دبي (@lovindubai) December 8, 2020

The Israeli Opera was originally scheduled to perform, however, one musician tested positive for COVID-19

Idan Raichel described the turn of events which lead to this historic performance

Sunday morning I received an urgent call from the President’s House, followed by a conference call with the Chairman of the Israel Export Institute. One of the musicians of the Israeli Opera tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire Opera is being quarantined. Their show planned for Tuesday night will probably be cancelled.
They ask me if I can put together a show that will be suitable for the audience in Dubai, within 48 hours. I said that I have the most talented people in the world in “The Idan Raichel Project” and they will be able to bring Dubai the most vibrant and beautiful colors of Israel.
We organized the team in record speed and got on a flight – Nasrin Kadri,Mark Kakon, Avi Wassa, Maya Avraham, Eyal Sela, Ofer, David, Ziv Rahav (Uzi), Barak Levi (Burekas), Yaniv Sati, Dana, Giza and, yallah – “Good Evening Dubai!”

Their performance was followed by a magical session from Bocelli, the Italian Opera singer and songwriter, who has been completely blind since the age of 12, is one of the world’s most renowned opera performers

The moving performance included his greatest hits Bizet, Ouverture Carmen, Di Capua, O sole mio and Sartori, Time to say goodbye pic.twitter.com/7KJJNvoRYU

— Lovin Dubai | لوڤن دبي (@lovindubai) December 9, 2020

A tribute to the world’s most beloved tenor was presented on the Burj Khalifa and Bocelli reshared it on his Insta