Feb. 8 – A standing ovation from Barack Obama and the First Lady for Andrea Bocelli, who performed in front of them, in Washington, on the occasion of the 61st National Prayer Breakfast. This is unprecedented recognition for an Italian artist taking part in the event, sponsored by the U.S. Senate, and the '"House of Representatives Prayer Groups", the official group of prayer of the Chamber of Deputies. The National Prayer Breakfast is a moment of great significance for world politics, during which the most important politicians of the world commit to cooperate with other nations in the common goal of prayer. The event lasts three days, as every year, and, in this 61st edition, it kicked off yesterday with a performance by Bocelli with "Ombra mai fu". The presence of the tenor was required especially for his active role as a public figure in favor of solidarity, a man of peace and faith who, through his own art and social commitment (expressed via the Andrea Bocelli Foundation), promotes everywhere the values of a Christian brotherhood. Bocelli ended the concert with Ave Maria: "In this country, where I receive huge affection, I also received - said Bocelli- another great lesson: I want to return to Italy and transmit it: the will to pray together." Over 4000 guests from all over the world via 200 delegations met to discuss topical issues, improving international cooperation on projects of solidarity, development and human development. Bocelli sat at the table with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of government, parliament, and the leaders of the spiritual world next to the most famous businessmen in America and Europe and rest of world.

THE TENOR WHO CONQUERED THE WORLD WITH “PASSION”

With "Passione" Andrea Bocelli conquered the record markets of the world. The album went straight to second place on the Billboard 200, the ranking of best-selling albums in America, straight to first in the ranking of Latin Albums and accessed directly the English top ten as a new entry. The success also knows no bounds for digital sales, where "Passion" is on top of the iTunes Store in virtually all countries of the world: Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Honduras, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, El Salvador, Kenya, Mozambique, Taiwan, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Poland, Egypt, Hungary, Bolivia, Romania, Malaysia, Thailand, and Norway, where it won the Platinum, and in Canada, where it received the Disc D'Oro. This is a great result for the Italian tenor who succeeded for the umpteenth time also in the most difficult music market in the world, the U.S., entering for the seventh time in the top ten of the Billboard 200 and replicating the success of "My Christmas" (2009), which ranked second as a new entry in the U.S. charts and remained stable for 5 consecutive weeks. "Passion," released on 29 January in Italy by Sugar and distributed in 75 other countries around the world, contains the biggest international hits of all time related to the theme of love, and is enriched by amazing duet with Jennifer Lopez in " Quisaz Quisaz Quisaz ", Nelly Furtado in" Corcovado "and Edith Piaf in" La via en rose ".