Hery Haryanto Azumi Welcomes Andrea Bocelli to Indonesia, Says Music Can Bridge Civilizations

BORDER JOURNAL — The arrival of world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli in Indonesia in late October and early November 2026 is expected to be more than a major event for classical music fans. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on the role of culture in fostering global peace and understanding.

Hery Haryanto Azumi, initiator of QUTB GLOBAL, believes music has the power to bring people together across national, cultural, and social boundaries, particularly at a time when conflicts and geopolitical tensions continue to shape the international landscape.

For Hery, music is more than entertainment or artistic performance. It can serve as an instrument of cultural diplomacy, opening channels for dialogue, nurturing empathy, and helping bridge differences in identity and background.

Amid growing global uncertainty, cultural encounters are increasingly important in strengthening mutual respect and reaffirming shared humanitarian values.

“Music becomes a bridge, culture becomes a space for encounters, and humanity becomes our common goal,” Hery said in a statement issued by QUTB GLOBAL.

Through its vision of an “Islamic Axis for Human Civilization,” QUTB GLOBAL seeks to bring spiritual, intellectual, and cultural values together as a foundation for building a more inclusive and just civilization that respects human dignity.

Hery also sees an opportunity for Indonesia to play a more active role in global cultural dialogue. The country’s diverse communities, rich traditions, and spiritual heritage offer valuable resources for building stronger and more open relationships with other nations.

For the QUTB GLOBAL executive director, dialogue between civilizations does not mean erasing differences. Rather, it requires a willingness to listen, understand, and respect the identities of others.

Andrea Bocelli Recalls the Warmth of Indonesian Audiences

Bocelli, meanwhile, has fond memories of Indonesian audiences. The Italian tenor performed in Jakarta in 2011 and remembers local music lovers as warm, attentive, and deeply appreciative of music.

“I have met Indonesian audiences in person, and what I remember most is how warm and attentive they were, and how deeply they appreciated music,” Bocelli said during an online press conference attended by journalists in Jakarta on Saturday.

The celebrated tenor is scheduled to perform at the Borobudur Temple complex in Central Java on October 31, 2026, followed by a concert at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta on November 3. Both performances will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his album Romanza, originally released in 1997.

Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia included in the anniversary tour.

Bocelli said the proposed venues were put forward by his management team, but he was fully supportive of the decision.

“This was a decision I wholeheartedly agreed with and was happy to undertake, because I have such beautiful memories of your country,” he said.

Although Bocelli has not studied the Indonesian language or familiarized himself with Indonesian songs, he has pledged to give audiences his best performance.

He is also enthusiastic about performing near Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“I hope and believe that good music and the beauty of this historic setting will come together in perfect harmony,” Bocelli said.

For Hery, the concerts should be more than a celebration of artistic achievement. They can also serve as a reminder that music and culture have the capacity to bring people together across differences and strengthen efforts to build a more peaceful and dignified world.

Indonesian Ulema Council Calls for Concert Cancellation

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has urged the government to cancel Bocelli’s planned concerts in Borobudur on October 31 and Jakarta on November 3, 2026.

The call was made by Professor Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, head of MUI’s Foreign Relations Division. He described the demand as consistent with the council’s opposition to international figures it believes have a record of supporting Zionism, following the government’s earlier cancellation of a concert by American musician Israel Houghton.

“This time, I want to reiterate that the planned Andrea Bocelli concert must be cancelled to uphold our commitment to humanity,” Sudarnoto said in a statement published on MUI’s official website on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

“Do not give a platform to anyone who helps fund the killing of civilians in Gaza and Palestine,” he added.

Sudarnoto cited an MUI fatwa prohibiting any form of support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine. The council’s objection to the 68-year-old tenor is based on activities it regards as evidence of public support for Israel and its military.

According to accounts of Bocelli’s past activities cited in the controversy, he took part in a fundraising event in Los Angeles in 2010 intended to support the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He also performed at Tel Aviv Stadium in 2022 despite international boycott calls from pro-Palestinian activists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly attended the concert.

The contrasting responses to Bocelli’s planned visit have placed his Indonesian concerts at the intersection of music, cultural diplomacy, and the wider debate over the relationship between public figures and humanitarian causes.

(Samsul Muarif | Sources: QUTB GLOBAL, MUI)