Concerto by Bocelli in Coimbra a natural “smell” of pre-Covid-19 – current events

By: Joao Gaspar from Lusa Agency

The couple, Roy and Rosario Dias, from Porto, haven’t been to a big concert since they saw the “Fantasma da Ópera” show in their city, and a few minutes after entering the Cidade de Coimbra stadium, Bocelli is giving his first concert today. After two concerts, they looked at the queuing crowd and found “a normal situation still a bit strange.”

“We wear masks and there is confidence in the organization,” he told Lusa Rosário Dias agency, stressing that he hopes this will be a first step towards the return of big parties, especially by some artists.

“If they bring in Bob Dylan, I’ll go straight away,” he admitted.

Around 9:00 p.m. huge streaks emerged from a diverse audience – from couples dressed up, as if it was a party, to people in T-shirts from teams like AC/DC.

Lines, not always the recommended distance, circled the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, with some streets closed in the surrounding area, parking prohibited and parks closed.

To enter the stadium, there was temperature control and tickets, but there was no need to provide a Covid-19 test, as tickets for the two concerts began to be sold before the date of the update of the standard that imposed mandatory testing, from a certain number of spectators.

At about 10:00 pm, most of the 13,450 seats (about half the stadium’s capacity) were already filled by the audience, to the sound of jazz instruments.

“We were still thinking about whether we should return the ticket or not, but we decided to come, because this is a mental problem,” said Thiago Lourenzo, 58, of Lisbon, who bought a ticket before the pandemic, during the concert. It was scheduled to take place on the 4th of July 2020.

For Anna Lourenço, there is “great confidence”, in the hope that this scene will mark the resumption of major cultural events, “as long as people do not let their guard down”.

Joanna Rodriguez, from Coimbra, also bought the ticket before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m still thinking about it, but I decided to come. I miss him, and on top of that, with such great weather, I miss him even more,” he said.

According to Conimbricense, a concert is “the scent of returning to normalcy,” the ability to be with those you love, and “having happy times.”

Annabella Reese, 58, bought the ticket last week, after “a few years” without seeing a big show.

The reasons why I came to Coimbra are numerous: “I would really like to see Bocelli, the epidemic has subsided, at least in my area, it is in the open air and I am vaccinated.”

“You know very well,” summed up the residents of Velgeras.

A voice, at 10:10 p.m., sets out the rules that the audience must follow, and informs them that the concert will begin in ten minutes.

Ten minutes later, as promised, the party began with the sound of “Farandole,” a movement from the “Arlesienne” suite, by Bizet, played by the orchestra, and the Italian tenor was greeted with thunderous applause as soon as he appeared. on the stage.

This was followed by a classic, “La Donna è Mobile”, a song from Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto”, which was widely praised by the audience.

“It’s great to be here. Thank you,” said that tenor at the end of this song.

On Saturday, Bocelli will hold her second concert at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, with the special participation of Alfado singer Marisa.

This is the first time the tenor has performed in Portugal at a football stadium, after being sold at the Altice Arena in Lisbon in 2017.

Andrea Bocelli was supposed to sing in Coimbra, on July 4, 2020, as part of the city’s festivities, but the concert was canceled due to the epidemic, which arrived in Portugal in March.