Soprano in lockdown passionately sings ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ over Italy’s rooftops

23 March 2020, 16:42 | Updated: 23 March 2020, 17:12

Quarantined soprano sings over the rooftops
Quarantined soprano sings over the rooftops. Picture: Facebook/Ilaria Serafini

By Helena Asprou

The quarantined opera singer performed the Andrea Bocelli classic to lift people’s spirits as the coronavirus outbreak continues.

An Italian-American soprano has gone viral after performing ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ to her neighbours, in an attempt to boost morale during coronavirus self-isolation.

The video (watch below) was shared on Facebook by Ilaria Serafini with the caption: ‘The best singing you can hear on a balcony of Italy in Quarantine 😍😍😍’ – and has since had over 3.6 million views.

Originally released as a duet by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman in 1995, under the title ‘Con te partirò’ (‘I’ll leave with you’), ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ strikes an incredibly poignant chord.

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Posted by Ilaria Serafini on Saturday, 21 March 2020

It was sung several storeys high by Illinois-based opera singer and teacher, Courtney Mills – who has previously studied at The Met and appeared on stage as the High Priestess in Verdi’s Aida.

Mills has actually performed at venues all over the world – including the Louvre Auditorium and even Carnegie Hall – but her recent rendition of ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ was her balcony debut.

Read more: Germans sing ‘Bella ciao’ from rooftops in solidarity with Italians under coronavirus lockdown >

The viral clip comes as many other musicians around the world share their performances online to lift people’s spirits during the COVID-19 lockdown – showing beautiful moments of solidarity and a powerful reminder that music heals.