Page 663 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

At the naming ceremony itself, the City of Liverpool was revealed as the ship's
godparent - the first time such an honour has been bestowed on a city.

Considering our shipping heritage - it felt apt.

After the city's representatives Mel C, Ngunan Adamu, Natalie Haywood, Jayne

Casey and Katarina Johnson-Thompson delivered the customary

Champagne bottle smash, legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli took to the
stage.

His beautiful and moving performance of 'Time to Say Goodbye' stopped

the thousands in attendance in their tracks. It inspired many tears in the
crowd and was met with a minute-long round of applause.

To hear him perform - for free - in the centre of Liverpool was quite
something. It brought the hairs to stand up on the back of your neck.

A party was yet to come, however. A funk and soul DJ set from Stockbridge

Village's Craig Charles upped the ante.

Complemented by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the DJ

mixed classics from The Beatles, Sister Sledge, Stevie Wonder and Indeep as
the brass band blared out the basslines. There was enthusiastic dancing (and

some reserved two-stepping) aplenty - quite the party for a Monday night.