Wellington (AFP)
Elton John abruptly interrupted a concert in New Zealand and apologized to the tears with his fans by explaining that he suffered from pneumonia, in the middle of a world tour.
The 72-year-old British superstar struggled to sing on Sunday evening while sitting at his piano during this concert at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.
After being examined by a doctor using a stethoscope, he sang two more songs before stopping in the middle of the concert: "I can't sing, I just lost my voice", a- he said to the audience in a hoarse voice.
"I have to go, I'm really sorry," he said, moved.
Video footage shows Elton John in a powder blue suit and wearing his oversized glasses, standing at the piano and shrugging his shoulders in front of the crowd, helplessly.
He then left the scene with his head down, helped by the members of his team, while the crowd cheered.
"I was diagnosed with atypical pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show possible," he wrote on his Twitter account.
This pneumonia would cause mild infections of the respiratory system.
Elton John is in New Zealand as part of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" world tour, which started in 2018 and is scheduled to end at the end of this year in London.
With hundreds of concerts around the world, this tour is considered the last chance to see the singer before he retires.
Elton John is scheduled to perform in Auckland Tuesday and Thursday before traveling to Australia for seven more concerts. The promoter of the Australian and New Zealand stages of the tour, Chugg Entertainment, said the star was resting and that the events would continue as planned.
"Doctors are confident he will recover," said a spokesperson.
© 2020 AFP