Queen and Adam Lambert Deliver Powerful “Nessun Dorma” Cover in Italy — Brian May Praises Vocalist
Queen’s legendary guitarist Brian May took to social media to praise frontman Adam Lambert after a surprise operatic moment during their July 10 show in Bologna, Italy.
Lambert wowed the crowd at the Unipol Arena with a stunning, impromptu performance of Nessun Dorma, the iconic aria from Puccini’s opera Turandot. The aria, made world-famous by Luciano Pavarotti during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, struck an emotional chord with the Italian audience—and with May.
Posting on Instagram, May beamed with pride: “A spontaneous gift to Bologna last night!!! So proud of Adam!!! I can see our dear departed friend Luciano smiling!! Let’s Rock tonight!!!”
The performance was part of Queen + Adam Lambert’s ongoing tour, further proving Lambert’s incredible range and showmanship. His ability to move seamlessly from rock anthems to classical masterpieces left the audience speechless and earned him a wave of online praise.
In related Queen news, the band is also celebrating the upcoming release of a new limited edition vinyl box set of The Platinum Collection, featuring all three Greatest Hits albums. Set to launch on June 17, the collection spans six 180g colored vinyl discs—each mastered at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios—and comes with a deluxe slipcase, unique artwork for each disc, and a 24-page photo booklet.
Meanwhile, Brian May has also collaborated with 10cc’s Graham Gouldman on a new track titled Floating In Heaven, released to celebrate the groundbreaking images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The track is now available for streaming.
As Queen continues to honor their legacy while exploring new musical heights, moments like Lambert’s rendition of Nessun Dorma remind fans why their performances remain timeless.