Andrea Bocelli‘s Viña del Mar debut was a grand affair, and the Italian tenor was awarded not only with the Silver Gaviota but also with the Golden one on Monday (Feb. 26).
With more than 110 musicians on stage, Bocelli opened the second night of the week-long event, the 63rd edition of Viña’s International Song Festival. While it was his first time at the Quinta Vergara and his introduction to the “monster,” as the festival’s audience is known as, Bocelli was right at home proving why he is a timeless artist and one of the most revered tenors of his generation.
Accompanied by the Orquesta Metropolitana de Santiago, Bocelli was joined by multiple artists throughout his nearly two-hour performance, including Larisa Martínez, Caroline Campbell, Pía Toscano and Bocelli’s son, Matteo Bocelli. “Now is a very special moment for me, because I call here on stage a young singer, his name is Matteo, my son,” the 65-year-old artist said, introducing Matteo to the 15,000 people in attendance.
Bocelli first won the Silver Gaviota following a standing ovation by a roaring crowd who honored him with his first award of the night. Toward the end of his performance, Bocelli received the Golden Gaviota, the highest honor at Viña del Mar.
Argentine electropop band Miranda! was in charge of closing out the second day of Viña del Mar. The group also won Golden and Silver Gaviotas. Both Bocelli and Miranda!’s performances followed Alejandro Sanz and Manuel Turizo’s respective sets on Sunday (Feb. 25). Maná and Men at Work will perform tonight (Feb. 27); Mora and Anitta on Feb. 29; March 1 is a night devoted to Chilean artists with Los Bunkers and Young Cister; and for the finale on March 2, Argentine artists Maria Becerra and Trueno perform.
If you missed Bocelli’s and Miranda!’s performances, or want to relive them, you can watch below.