Cuban flutist plays with Andrea Bocelli and "still can't believe it"

March 4, 2023

Cuban flutist Leslie Duran, based in the Cayman Islands, has been overwhelmed with emotion after performing alongside famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli at a concert the artist gave in that country.

"Tonight was like a dream. You don't accompany Maestro Andrea Bocelli every day and this Cuban still can't believe it. What a pleasure", Duran wrote on her social media.

The Cuban accompanied her message with photos with Bocelli before the concert and shared an anecdote about what happened in the minutes before the show.

"Here we are backstage before the concert starts. He asked me for the flute and all I could think to say was: 'Maestro if you play like you sing I'm going home,'" added the young Cuban artist.

Born on September 22, 1958 in Pisa, Italy, the 64-year-old Bocelli is one of the most recognized Italian musicians in the world. He has performed on the world's major stages and released more than 70 albums with sounds ranging from pop, classical music and opera, work in which he has demonstrated his versatility.

He has also performed well-known Spanish songs such as Bésame Mucho and has performed with stars like Jennifer López, Martha Sánchez, and soprano Sarah Brightman.

In 2019 it was confirmed that the Italian musician would perform in Cuba but the concert did not materialize. "The renowned Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, has publicly expressed on several occasions his desire to sing in Cuba and to that end has been in contact with the Cuban Institute of Music. Among the date options that were being considered, it was evaluated to coincide this long-awaited event with year-end celebrations, but logistical limitations prevent this great artist from being able to realize such a project", said the Cuban Institute of Music at that time.

Years later the musician has stated that he remains interested in performing before Cubans, but it is not known whether the island's authorities intend to revive that project.