The Italian singer participated in a world-first robotics demonstration alongside mechanical engineering specialists in a historic Tuscan opera venue.

When Andrea Bocelli joined the world of science by singing Verdi with a robot... - Classic FM
Star Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is accustomed to big stages, leading orchestras and working with the world’s finest conductors. However, on a September evening in Tuscany back in 2017, he worked in quite a different musical pairing.

YuMi, a robot developed in Switzerland, joined the singer on stage with the Tuscany-based Lucca Philharmonic. The very modern performance took place in the historic and ornate Teatro Verdi in Pisa.

ABB, the technology company behind the high-tech creation claimed YuMi was the world’s “first collaborative dual-arm robot”. Its abilities to gesture and direct music were showcased with soloists and orchestra at a charity gala as part of the 2017 International Robotics Festival.

At the concert, Bocelli sang while YuMi conducted ‘La donna è mobile’ from Verdi’s Rigoletto, with the robot giving the orchestra the precision gestures required. Soprano Maria Luigia Borsis also joined alongside the robot, singing ‘O mio babbino caro’ from Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi. Watch the performance above.

Andrea Bocelli appluads his robotic maestro in Piza
Andrea Bocelli appluads his robotic maestro in Piza. Picture: Getty
The robot did rely on humans to prepare. ABB says YuMi used movements of Italian conductor Andrea Colombini, who helped the machine learn the music.

Colombini said YuMi “has a very high level of fluidity of gesture, incredible softness and expressive nuancing”. He stressed that it was unlikely the machines would take his job any time soon, but that they will have value a helpful assistant.

“The robot uses its arm, but the soul, the spirit, are always those of man,” the conductor said.

Bocelli and YuMi in rehearsal
Bocelli and YuMi in rehearsal. Picture: Getty
And when you want a moment of soul and spirit in Tuscany, there’s one singer to call on.

Over his 30-year career, Andrea Bocelli has travelled the world and brought his artistry to millions of adoring listeners. We’re sure YuMi enjoyed their chance to play with one of the world’s most in-demand artists – so maybe there’s one more slightly more electronic fan out there now too.