Queen At The Opera - Original Cast Recording

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Queen at the Opera was first discussed on the 8th of August, 1982. It was Geoffrey Sutherlands birthday and Bryan Hill had just given him a recording of Queens music, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Whilst listening to these orchestral interpretations, Geoffrey expressed his desire to stage a theatrical version of both the music and lyrics of the super-group. Four years later, in 1986, Geoffrey became the head of NAPACs Department of Musical Theatre. He had just completed a season of semi-staged concerts featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The music arranger on this project was Michael Hankinson, and he became inspired by Geoffreys vision and agreed to do the arrangements for a musical show based on Queens greatest hits. The next addition to the team expanded this vision totally. Andrew Botha had designed several shows for Geoffrey, but the idea of this stage show soon progressed beyond a simple concert version. After several inspired discussions, Geoffrey and Andrew came up with the concept of a live rock video. Last, but definitely not least, Nic Michaletos joined the team. After his discussions with Geoffrey, Andrew realised that Nic and his company, Production Projects, were the only people who could do justice to the production on the scale that Geoffrey envisaged. The show escalated swiftly from there. Using the talents of five principals, the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the NAPAC Dance Company, NAPAC Singers and the NAPAC Jazz Quartet, Queen at the Opera opened in 1990 for a limited season. No-one expected the acclaim that the production received. Here was something new and daring that joined theatre and rock music in an exciting assault on the senses. Such was its success, that a sequel was planned for 1992, as well as a tour of the original production to Johannesburg. Before these plans were put into effect, a version was staged at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in January 1991. Once again it played to packed houses & Queen also managed to be a big hit in the corporate market of industrial theatre when it was presented at the Wild Coast Sun. And then the unthinkable happened, Freddie Mercury died in November 1991, followed by Geoffrey in July 1992. The last production Geoffrey worked on was Queen II The Show Must Go On. He never lived to see the phenomenal success that Queen at the Opera would have outside of Durban. It first opened at the Standard Bank Arena for two weeks in 1992. This was a faithful recreation of the original production. A revised version, using additional numbers from Queen II was then staged to tumultuous acclaim in 1995. This version played at the Nico in Cape Town, the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg and returned to its place of birth the Playhouse in Durban. Over the years Queen at the Opera has had an organic life, a concept that Geoffrey, Andrew and Nic have always encouraged. The new performers in the production have contributed greatly to the staging and Andrew and Michael have contributed new looks and sound to the present incarnation, ensuring a freshness and vitality that helps the production move with the times. So, if you are revisiting the show, we hope you enjoy the new interpretations and if it is your first time. We Will Rock You!

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