Photo: Wenn
Arguably Queen’s greatest ever hit, Bohemian Rhapsody, is currently celebrating its 40th year of release. To commemorate the epic record, it has been reinterpreted by the English National Ballet, Royal Academy of Music and Trinity Boys Choir.
In a video shared by The Guardian, the song is performed by two ballet dancers, a choir and a string quartet – while archive footage of Queen’s live performance on Christmas Eve in 1975 is also cut in.
Watch the video below:
The single was originally released on 31 October 1975 and became Christmas Number One that year. It reached the summit again in 1991 when it was re-released. The prog-rock anthem is the UK’s third best-selling single and has sold in excess of 6.5 million copies worldwide.
Recalling the single’s record process, guitarist Brian May said: “That was a great moment, but the biggest thrill for us was actually creating the music in the first place. I remember Freddie coming in with loads of bits of paper from his dad's work, like Post-it notes, and pounding on the piano. He played the piano like most people play the drums. And this song he had was full of gaps where he explained that something operatic would happen here and so on. He'd worked out the harmonies in his head."
Isle of Wight Festival have announced Queen + Adam Lambert as a headliner for next year’s event. It will be the act’s first UK festival since former American Idol contestant Lambert joined the group as their touring lead singer. The headline slot will be the band’s only UK show in 2016.
Isle Of Wight Festival takes place between 9 and 12 June 2016 at Seaclose Park, Newport. Buy Isle Of Wight tickets and get more information here.
