SWITZERLAND: OPERA SINGER MONTSERRAT CABALLE UNVEILS STATUE OF LATE ROCK SINGER FREDDIE MERCURY

Record ID: 386832

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: OPERA SINGER MONTSERRAT CABALLE UNVEILS STATUE OF LATE ROCK SINGER FREDDIE MERCURY
  • Date: 25th November 1996
  • Summary: (RTV - AVAILABLE ALL) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) BRIAN MAY GREETING GUESTS ARRIVING FOR STATUE CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) ASKED WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT QUEEN'S MUSIC, CHOREOGRAPHER MAURICE BEJART SAYING IT'S FANTASTIC, BECAUSE LIKE STRAVINSKY'S MUSIC, LIKE INDIAN MUSIC, IT'S PURE MUSIC MADE WITH LOVE AND TECHNIQUE (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) OPERA SINGER MONSERRAT CA
  • Embargoed: 10th December 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA8EEZJ7DMKWGIKTQ9ENQXIJU3A
  • Story Text: INTRO: Opera singer Montserrat Caballe has unveiled a statue of the late rock singer Freddie Mercury in Montreux where he spent much of the later part of his life.

    Mercury, lead singer with the group Queen, died of AIDS on November 24, 1991 in London, after spending considerable time fighting the disease in Montreux.

    Often he stayed at the Montreux Palace Hotel, and later bought a house in the town.

    Other members of the band, family and friends decided to commission the statue at the side of Lake Geneva as a memorial.

    Mercury had recorded his final work with fellow Queen members John Deacon, Brian May and Roger Taylor at the Mountain recording studios in Montreux shortly before his death.

    Caballe was a close friend of Mercury after they met at a concert in 1981. Together they recorded the song "Barcelona" in 1987, and it was used as the anthem at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

    At the unveiling ceremony were the members of Queen, Freddie's parents Mr and Mrs Bomi Bulsara, his sister Kashmira.

    The statue, looking out over Lake Geneva, was sculpted by Irena Sedlecka who was born in Czechoslavakia and now lives in London.
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