2023-05-13

Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Italy

Set List of Show:

"City Of Blinding Lights"
"Vertigo"
"With or Without You"
"Out of Control"
"Stories for Boys"
"I Will Follow"
"Iris (Hold Me Close)"
"Sunday Bloody Sunday"
"Pride (In the Name of Love)"
"Where the Streets Have No Name"
"Desire"
"Beautiful Day"
"Torna a Surriento"

Repeated:

"Torna a Surriento"

Additional Music

Pre-Recorded Intro Song: "Empire State Human" - The Human League

Snippets of Other Songs Performed by Bono:

Cabaret

Show Details:

With tonight’s show, Bono brings his “Stories of Surrender” tour to a close. The show is the same show as elsewhere, but “Torna a Surriento” is performed twice at the end of the show, to ensure it is captured for the film that is being put together by director, Andrew Dominik. Earlier shows in New York at The Beacon Theatre were also filmed for this film, which is rumoured to be appearing on Apple Plus television later this year. The bulk of the filming was done at the final show at The Beacon Theatre on Monday, May 8, with additional song footage being filmed on Tuesday, May 9, with an invited group of fans at the same theatre. Tonight, “Torna a Surriento” is captured for the end of this film.

There was a translation for the Italian speaking attendees during some parts of the show. The show was very similar to the final shows at the Beacon, with the exception of the double performance of “Torna a Surriento”. Bono was in tears as he finished the first take of the song on this famed stage. During his time speaking about (RED) he spoke specifically about where Italy had contributed, including mention of the Fiat Cinquecentro. Also unique to this show, at one point Bono requested the lights be turned on so he could see the beautiful people in the audience this evening. At the end of the evening the audience moved towards the stage to applaud the show, which was also filmed from behind Bono.

Tonight for this special show, a unique T-shirt and a poster were both available for merchandise. The bracelet allowing entrance was a black fabric bracelet which read, “Teatro San Carlo, Napoli Sabato 13 Maggio 2023” and included the “Bono an evening of words, music and some mischief…” and the “Stories of Surrender” logo in yellow.

The venue for tonight’s single show in Europe is the Teatro San Carlo, an opera house in Naples, capacity 1386. The venue is the oldest opera house in the world, opened in 1737. The show in Naples is a single show at the end of Bono’s run of performances at The Beacon Theatre in New York, making up the second leg of the “Stories of Surrender” tour.

English footballer, Peter Crouch, was in attendance at the show.

Ahead of the show Bono made a request, via the ticketing agencies:

Dear Friends…

On Saturday evening I will end my Songs of Surrender tour with a performance at the Teatro San Carlo. This means the world to me. I am attempting to live a dream, in fact a series of dreams. The dream of all opera singers (and I am not one), a dream of mine, and most of all a dream to honour my late father, Brendan Robert Hewson, who was a fine tenor.

We are making a film of this dream and I would ask for your help in bringing the fantasy to life. I invite you, the best-dressed Europeans, to step out in style and dress up for our night at the opera. Formal wear if you have it. Black tie if you can swing it. Pearls and tiaras welcome. Fancy dress. Dark suits. Somewhere between Amadeus and 007. And yes, it’s your chance to look flash on the big screen.

Anyhow, do as you will. If you’ve only a black t-shirt that’s OK. But if you have a top hat and tail coat in the closet, consider busting them out.

This is going to be a big night. Come as you aren’t.

See you Saturday,
Bono

The request to wear formal attire was also mentioned in the announcement of this show.

This show was announced on April 18, 2023, Bono has made good on his promises while visiting Italy in late 2022. While visiting Che Tempo Che Fa to promote his memoir, Bono made promises he would bring his show to Italy if he could, and shared they had tried very hard to find a date and venue that would work.

Tickets were available in advance for fan club members on U2.com starting at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19 and on general sale starting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 21. Tickets were labelled with attendees names, and you were only able to pick up the ticket with your own name, i.e. the second person you buy for must be present, or pick up their own ticket. Tickets could only be picked up in person at the event venue on the day of the show, and will require valid ID that matches the name on the ticket. Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster, Ticketone and Vivaticket.

Thank you to Patrick, Dani, Harry, Adele, Eleonora, Fernando, and Dean for their help with this entry. A special shout out to the teams at U2Gigs and U2360Gradi for their assistance with tonight.

Officially Released Tracks