ITALY: PREPARATIONS AND REHEARSALS FOR PAVAROTTI AND FRIEND WAR CHILD CHARITY CONCERT

Record ID: 388442

  • Title: ITALY: PREPARATIONS AND REHEARSALS FOR PAVAROTTI AND FRIEND WAR CHILD CHARITY CONCERT
  • Date: 4th June 1999
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) BB KING SAYING: "He invited me over so I'm so happy to be here. It's very emotional because like I said, not only being a big fan and thinking that he's the greatest which he is, but being able to be a part of it, it's a little more - it's like meeting the Pope." (SOUNDBITE) (English) BB KING SAYING: "I hope that they'll soon, as we use the word in
  • Embargoed: 19th June 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MODENA, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Entertainment,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5C0N9XSR60JJ0S1M5OTIESPOI
  • Story Text: Day two for rehearsals at Modena - and now we're cooking! Some of the biggest stars in the world of music have descended on this little town in northern Italy to perform with its most famous son, Luciano Pavarotti.Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, BB King, Gloria Estefan, Joe Cocker all took that phone call when Pavarotti invited them to his benefit concert tonight for Guatemala and the war in nearby Kosovo - a war BB King wished, "they'd cool it".
    The final sound checks have been done, the dancers know their steps, the director has got his camera angles - and the performers have learnt their material.
    All is now ready for tonight's big show - Pavarotti and friends performing in an open air arena in the heart of beautiful Modena in Northern Italy - and has Pavarotti got some friends! BB King, Gloria E, Ricky M,, Joe Cocker, Lionel Richie, Zucchero, Mariah Carey & even Michael Jackson all took that call when Pavarotti invited them to his sixth annual benefit concert, this year in aid of the War Child Charity and its projects in Guatemala and nearby Kosovo.
    "As we say in music, I hope they cool it over there," BB King says of the war."It would be good to see everybody in harmony again."
    He's certainly in harmony.Even his rehearsals brought the house down in Modena, while Ricky Martin and his oh so sexy dancers stopped everybody in their tracks with a blistering warm up of his smash hit ' Living La Vida Loca'.
    Martin is pleased to be here too."The music industry should get together more often to affect people - collaboration is very important.I will always say 'Yes I'm here!'".
    Yes we know - you can't miss Martin.Ever the consummate professional, he conducted a lively press conference in three languages and readily made himself available for interviews.
    Alas Michael Jackson is as elusive as ever.Not a sign of him at the rehearsals - he's in town - and rumour has it Pavarotti went to his hotel their duet.
    The big man is saving his voice - just occasionally treating us to a snatch of his duets with Martin and Estefan.
    Not that anybody minds.The luminaries of the pop world are clearly overwhelmed at the prospect of singing with the world's greatest tenor.
    Mariah Carey particularly so."My mother was an opera singer in New York.Opera was some of the first music I ever heard.So I'm very excited to be here - and so is my mom," a stunning Carey said.
    She looks amazing at a press conference - clearly not requiring the special lighting that was set up for her - or for that matter the soft focus sheet of glass her agent INSISTED on taping in front of the Reuters camera.
    In a few hours time, there'll be nowhere to hide.It will be showtime - before a watching world.
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