Andrea Bocelli has discussed the “gift” of performing with his children, Virginia and Matteo Bocelli, at the same event for the first time.

Last week, Andrea Bocelli made history when she performed inside Hegra, an ancient desert city in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. The Italian tenor’s first performance was not the only one, though, as he also sang at the same event alongside his son Matteo Bocelli and daughter Virginia Bocelli. After posting some holiday photos of himself using AlUla’s products, Andrea reflected on the performance and his time there.

The 62-year-old wrote on his Instagram: “I leave AI-Ula with a wealth of memories and emotions that no suitcase can contain.

“I carry with me the yearning to return to sing in the Middle East as soon as possible, a nostalgia for the deep silences I experienced in the desert, for the crystalline air I breathed there.

“I leave with the giddiness of the story that the stones of that archaeological paradise tell, as well as the privilege of having been able to touch them, ideally, with my singing.”

The tenor then went on to speak of the particularly special moments of singing with his family.

andrea singing with matteo and virginia
Andrea Bocelli on ‘gift’ of singing with kids Matteo and Virginia ‘They are my strength’ (Image: AB)

Andrea added: “Finally, I leave with a great and private gift that, until recently, I had considered unattainable…
“For the first time, three Bocellis sang on stage together with their own voices: Virginia and Matteo, alongside their dad. Family is music in itself, it is the score that restores life’s harmony.

“My family is my strength, and it was so sweet to have them beside me in the enchantment of AI-Ula, a place that speaks to the heart and bears witness to a much larger family, of which we are all part, the one – thousands of years old – that unites the world in an immense, interconnected community.”

During the concert, Andrea performed Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah alongside 9-year-old Virginia.

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The father and daughter had previously duetted Hallelujah for a live-streamed concert in December called Believe in Christmas.

While Andrea and his 23-year-old son sang Fall On Me, their 2018 track which featured in the Disney movie The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

Having performed with his father numerous times, Matteo’s solo debut came last year when he sang The Lion King’s Can You Feel The Love Tonight for the album Disney Goes Classical.

The rising star was even accompanied by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for his cover of Sir Elton John’s hit.