Uzbekistan marked 35 years of independence with a little help from London’s West End. A familiar voice from The Phantom of the Opera echoed across Tashkent as British soprano star Sarah Brightman joined the celebrations this Friday.
Brightman performed her timeless hit Time to Say Goodbye, the soaring duet she made famous with Andrea Bocelli, at the Independence Day concert in Uzbekistan. Under the Tashkent sky, her voice was just as magical as it had been at London’s Royal Albert Hall nearly three decades ago.
The song sold 12 million copies worldwide, her official biography says. She is also known for creating the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.
Footage from the concert showed Brightman performing before the Uzbek president, Shavkat Mirziyoev, foreign dignitaries and local guests.
Brightman shared the stage with Alessandro Safina, an Italian tenor whose music mixes opera with pop and rock. A separate video from the ceremony showed him singing Luna, the song that had brought him international success in the early 2000s.
Concertgoers were rounded out by Uzbek vocalists, musicians, and dance ensembles. With the use of lighting, large screens, and meticulously staged dance scenes, the ceremony became a visual narrative of Uzbekistan’s history.
Fighter jets, robots and a drone show
The evening began with military aircraft flying over the venue and leaving trails in the colours of Uzbekistan’s flag. Similar displays have become a feature of the country’s main Independence Day ceremony.
The stage programme included 3D visuals that covered various periods of the country’s past. Robots were used to highlight technology and education, while drones formed images above the venue.
Read more: Peace and cooperation is the only way to go for Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev says
Free concerts and family events will continue in Tashkent parks until 1 September. Milliy Bog‘ is hosting music, traditional wind-instrument parades and children’s activities, while Yangi O‘zbekiston Park is holding evening shows and concerts.
The anniversary programme has also included the opening of 163 industrial, service and social projects worth more than $4 billion.
