Andrea Bocelli is no stranger to Saudi Arabia, having performed twice in Al Ula at the Winter at Tantora Festival. Now, he's set to return to the kingdom to perform an intimate concert at the ancient site of Hegra, also formerly known as Madain Saleh, on April 8.
This will mark the first time the Unesco World Heritage Site will be used as the setting for a musical event.
Joining Bocelli on stage for the stripped-back performance will be musicians from the Arabian Philharmonic and special guests Loren Allred, Matteo Bocelli, soprano Francesca Maionchi and Eugene Kohn at the piano. There will also be a special mystery guest, who will be revealed on the night.
While the set list has not been announced, fans will likely be able to hear some of Bocelli's classics, including The Prayer, Ave Maria and Time to Say Goodbye.
The Fall On Me singer will be the first artist to stage a concert within the city walls of Hegra. The ancient city, built in the first century BCE by the Nabataean Kingdom, is an ancient desert city 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 will be the 20 carved tombs of Al Khuraymat, which archaeologists say represent some of the best preserved in the city of 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.
Ticket go on sale on Thursday and will be limited as the show will have less than 300 spectators to protect the environment, as well as for Covid-19 safety reasons.
If you can't make it to the event, however, the concert will also be broadcast uninterrupted on MBC 1 at 10pm (Saudi Arabia time).
More information is at www.experiencealula.com
