Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli brings his voice to Samarkand’s historic heart

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has performed his first ever concert in Uzbekistan, a glorious combination of classical pieces and popular songs, leaving thousands from far and wide with a truly unforgettable experience.

Alongside Bocelli was Russian-born soprano Aida Garifullina, a frequent partner on the world’s greatest stages, together with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan and leading national choral ensembles.

The mix of international stars and local talent gave the concert both global prestige and a distinctly Uzbek character.

For those in attendance, the night was more than just an ordinary concert. For Gulbakhor Abdukarimova, a young visitor from Tashkent, this event was simply unmissable: “I once saw Bocelli’s concert on Instagram and wished to be there myself. When I heard he was coming here, I bought my ticket immediately. At the first notes, I got goosebumps. Through the music I felt happiness, sadness, and excitement all at once. For me, it wasn’t just a performance, it was a memory for life.”

Bocelli on meeting a new audience

For Bocelli, the evening carried the same sense of discovery. “Meeting a new audience is always a thrill because every audience has a different character, different reactions. It is always a new emotion to face people you meet for the first time”, he told Euronews in an exclusive interview just before he went on stage.

The Italian tenor also reflected on the wider meaning of culture: “I think Uzbekistan has started an important journey of opening up to the world through its culture and in relation to other cultures. This is always very positive.”

Reflections on music and technology

Bocelli did not only address performance, he also tackled change in the music industry, and music production.

“Every innovation involves risks, but it cannot be stopped. Progress cannot be stopped. The only thing we can do is hope to make good use of it”, Bocelli said, adding that artificial intelligence is both a great opportunity and a challenge, with education at its core.

But technology, he noted, will never replace the human bond that music creates: “AI can do many things better than humans, but it cannot replicate the emotion that one person can transmit to another”.

Music, Bocelli explained, has always been his constant companion. “I have lived with music since I was a newborn. Even as a child, when I cried, music would calm me. For me, it has always been essential and irreplaceable”.

From Registan to the world

The concert was organized by the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bringing Bocelli to Registan Square – one of the country’s most iconic architectural monuments, was part of a wider effort to position Uzbekistan as a center for cultural exchange and global dialogue.

For one night, the square turned into a living stage, uniting a world-renowned tenor, international guests, national musicians, and an audience that will carry the memory long after the last note faded into the Samarkand night.