Freddie Mercury, member of pop group Queen, was an admirer of the Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé. In 1986 they met for the first time and Mercury wrote several songs for her before they embarked on Barcelona together. This rock opera was intended for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. But already in 1987 it received a tremendous reception.
The title song ended up in the international hit charts. This symphonic rock music may bridge the gap between classical and rock music. Sicilian pianist and composer Maria Previti arranged the opera for 2 singers and ensemble. This successful version of the opera has toured Europe extensively. The same musicians have now recorded this arrangement.
Salvo Bruno is singer with a training in classical and jazz music. In 1996 the reached the semi-final of the San Remo Competition. Singing Mercury songs has become a kind of specialism of his.
This music is appreciated by a wide audience and might, even now, convert some to Queen and (posthumously) its star, Freddie Mercury. The arrangement even more than its original seems to plead for a ‘lenient’ approach to popular music by confirmed lovers of classical music.
