President Javier Milei received the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli at Casa Rosada to award him with the Order of May, one of the highest distinctions awarded by the Argentine State to personalities who stand out for their career. The meeting, which took place in the White Room, included a brief exchange between the president and the musician, and generated expectations in the official environment regarding a possible live performance.
During the talk before the ceremony, Milei – known for his love of opera – shared with Bocelli his admiration for the Italian composers Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. The gesture was well received by the artist, who thanked the award with brief and kind words.
The possibility of Bocelli offering a small musical presentation had been circulating in the Government for hours before. The chance of him performing up to five pieces in an intimate format had even been mentioned. However, that did not happen. After receiving the medal, the tenor turned to the piano and performed an instrumental version of for a headthe classic tango of Gardel and Le Pera. He didn’t sing.
After the performance, he thanked the applause and explained his decision: “We would be very happy to sing, but really, after two concerts and at this time of the morning… I would do one.” brutta figura (a piece of paper)“He said, referring to the fact that he did not feel in a vocal condition to make a formal presentation. Then he added: “Sing together what you want,” he said, inviting a kind of presidential karaoke.
Given the discomfort of the moment, the tenor sat down again at the piano and, this time, he did sing: he played kiss me a lotthe famous song by the Mexican Consuelo Velázquez, in a short and celebrated version. In conclusion, he expressed that both the place and the tribute deserved “much more and much better,” and that, for that, it would be necessary to organize the presentation with the appropriate time and conditions.
In parallel, the Argentine Airports Orchestra, invited especially for the occasion, performed the final fragment of Nessun Dormaone of the best-known moments in Bocelli’s repertoire. The tenor simply listened from his place, without intervening.
The gesture was respectful and well received, but several of those present, including officials and advisors who had suspended activities to be there, left with little taste.
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