On a balmy summer evening worthy of Tuscany, the Tricolour was lowered and shortly afterwards Andrea Bocelli was led on to the stage in the historic square of Collins Barracks.
He opened with the overture from Bizet's Carmen, backed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra under conductor Marcello Rota, and his Cork audience was captivated.
Paul Lynch and his wife, Denise, from Frankfield, Cork, who had seen the Tuscan-born singer at his last Irish concert in Dublin's Point, said his Cork debut was even better.
Angie O'Brien from Stradbally, Waterford, concurred. "It was well worth the wait - definitely the highlight of Cork 2005 so far." She agreed with her friend Kate Dunford that the Army barracks was a spectacular venue which should be open for concerts more often.
The brainchild of Cork businessman Val O'Connor, in conjunction with Aiken Promotions, last night's concert was embraced by Cork 2005, which has encouraged the private sector to get involved in Capital of Culture events.
O'Connor's faith in Cork's opera-loving public was rewarded within minutes of the tickets going on sale. All 10,000 were snapped up at prices ranging up to €155.
"I have had the privilege of seeing Bocelli in concert before, which was a truly magical occasion. I wanted to repeat that experience in Cork as celebration of this marvellous city of ours," said O'Connor.
