Mayssa Karaa was a special guest at Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s New Year’s Eve performance at Emirates Palace. The Lebanese singer performed during the second half of the event, held in a custom-built venue at the Mandarin Oriental resort. Her four-song set included both duets with Bocelli and solo performances.
Karaa also had the honor of leading the countdown to the new year, which ended with a dazzling fireworks display. Speaking to The National, she said it was the perfect way to start 2025. “As an Arab woman on that stage, it was a very powerful moment,” she shared. “I wished everyone a year of peace, love, and happiness before starting the countdown.”
Karaa’s preparations for the big night started earlier in the week, with rehearsals alongside Bocelli and his technical team. She praised the calm and professional atmosphere backstage, which mirrored Bocelli’s onstage presence.
“What stood out to me the most was how kind and professional the team was,” Karaa said. “Andrea is surrounded by people who have been with him for years, and it felt like being with family. The energy was contagious, and we all felt like we had known each other forever. Andrea himself was very hands-on and attentive to every detail during rehearsals.”
Karaa’s performance included a mix of classics. She began with a duet of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, followed by Adagio from baroque composer Albinoni. Then came a joint rendition of The Prayer, where Karaa sang in Arabic, adapting the original lyrics by Celine Dion.
“It was a special moment because I think it was the first time Andrea sang with someone in Arabic,” she explained. “I had adapted the lyrics earlier, and they loved it enough to include it in the setlist.”
Karaa ended her set with another duet, Bocelli’s favorite, Canto della Terra. Her most cherished memory of the evening was the encouragement Bocelli gave her during their performance.
“It was magical, and the time flew by,” she said. “Performing with him felt natural, as though I’d sung with him many times before. He was so kind, even cheering me on during the show, saying things like ‘beautiful’ and ‘great job.’ It made the experience smooth and truly enjoyable.”
