World-famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli mesmerised his audience on Thursday night during a first-of-its-kind performance at Hegra.
The singer is no stranger to Saudi Arabia, having already appeared twice in Al Ula at the Winter at Tantora Festival, but this is the first time he has performed at the Unesco World Heritage Site formerly known as Madain Saleh.
The intimate concert, which was performed to under 300 people, is believed to be the first to take place within the walls of Hegra.
During the pared-back set, Bocelli was joined on stage by musicians from the Arabian Philharmonic orchestra, as well as special guests Loren Allred, an American singer, songwriter, pianist and actress; his son Matteo Bocelli; soprano Francesca Maionchi; and Eugene Kohn at the piano.
A special mystery guest was also revealed on the night to be the tenor's daughter Virginia, aged 9, who played guitar and sang along to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah alongside her father.
For those who couldn't make it, the concert was also broadcasted on MBC 1 at 10pm local time.
The ancient desert city, built in the first century BCE by the Nabataean Kingdom, is home to thousands of tombs cut into sandstone mountains. At least 100 tombs have elaborate carved facades, showing off the skills of Nabataean craftsmen.
The specific backdrop for the event was the 20 carved tombs of Al Khuraymat, which archaeologists say represent some of the best preserved in Hegra.
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The rose-coloured sandstone in Hegra, a Unesco World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia's northwestern town of AlUla. AFP -
One of the tombs at Hegra, formerly known as Madain Saleh. AFP -
The site was used as the background for a concert by Italian tenor Andea Bocelli. AFP -
The Qasr al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Hegra. AFP -
The Qasr al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Hegra. AFP -
Andrea Bocelli is believed to be the first artist to host a concert at Hegra, Saudi Arabia. Sammy Six -
Hegra, known locally as 'rocky place', features 111 monumental tombs carved into stone. AFP -
Rock-cut tombs at Hegra, near Al Ula, are Saudi Arabia's equivalent of Petra in Jordan, but receive only a trickle of visitors. Amar Grover / The National -
Nabataean tomb in Hegra archaeological site, Al Madinah Province, AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Getty Images -
Hegra is the first archeological site in Saudi Arabia to join Unesco's World Heritage List. Photo: Consulum -
A Saudi tour guide stands inside a tomb at Hegra in Saudi Arabia. Reuters -
Hegra is northwest of Riyadh. AP Photo -
Nabataean rock-cut tombs at Hegra, near AlUla, are Saudi Arabia's equivalent of Petra in Jordan, but receive only a trickle of visitors.
The Fall On Me singer has previously performed shows in Al Ula at Maraya Concert Hall as part of the annual Winter at Tantora Festival.
More recently, in 2020, Bocelli also came to Dubai, where he took to the stage alongside a number of Israeli musicians for an invitation-only event at Dubai Opera in December. Dubbed A Celebration of Peace Concert, the gala evening was held in celebration of the UAE and Israel's formal ties as part of the Abraham Accords.
The night before his concert on Thursday, Bocelli was pictured in Hegra kissing a desert falcon for good luck, in an image that was shared on the official Twitter account of Al Ula Tourism.
