Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams joined Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli to provide a classic musical finale to the World Cup Friday. Thousands who flocked to the dome in northern Johannesburg saw Bocelli at times joined on stage by soprano Pretty Yende to sing some of the numbers from the Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini operas, backed by Johannesburg's festival orchestra and Gauteng choristers. With joyful movement, and colorful dresses and outfits, the Mzansi Youth Choir opened the concert, with which organizers hope to raise awareness about the risk of malaria, which kills a child every 30 seconds. Thousands stood up and cheered when the Italian tenor joined Adams in singing “Yesterday,” before the Canadian rock singer, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, performed one of his most popular songs, “Everything I Do.” During one of many encores, Bocelli walked back on stage, assisted by Marcello Rota, who conducted the show. In Bocelli's hand was a vuvuzela, which caused the otherwise subdued crowd to cheer wildly for few moments. Flautist Andrea Griminelli brought to life Rimsky Korsakov's orchestral interlude “The flight of the bumblebee,” before Bocelli moved thousands with his interpretation of “Con Te Partiro,” known as “Time to Say Goodbye” in English. – APThe grand finale was Puccini's “Nessun Dorma,” from the famous Turandot opera. The World Cup ends Sunday, when Spain meets Netherlands in the final at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
