Three Tenors to Lend Voices to Beijing's Olympic Bid

Three Tenors Concert to Be Staged

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A unique moment in history is coming: the Three Tenors including Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo will sing together at the centuries old Forbidden City on Olympic Day to voice their support to Beijing's bid for the 2008 Games.

The landmark concert slated in Beijing on Saturday has been hailed as a perfect bridge between the East and West, as the three tenors have been synonymous with Western classic opera for more than three decades and the Forbidden City, dated back to six centuries ago, is the highlight of the Chinese ancient culture.

It also conincides with the Olympic Day as the three tenors will publicly declare their support to Beijing's race for the 2008 Olympiad during the concert.

When asked at Thursday's news conference if he would back Beijing's bid, Pavarotti said"This is not a question. We are here for the reason,"

"Beijing deserve the Olympics, "said the tenor. "The Olympics will bring peace to the world, and China is very important to the peace of the world."

Pavarotti, who was in Beijing last time about 15 years ago, was impressed by the new buildings, local people's hospitality and the Chinese culture.

"It was my second time. I saw a lot different. I am very lucky to be here,"said the Italian.

Carreras also had a good memory of the oriental culture, after holding two concerts respectively in Shanghai and Beijing in 1998.

"China has a very good tradition such as the respect to the old people. I think it is where the West could learn from you,"said Carreras.

All three tenors had travelled individually to China for performances, but it will be the first time for them to sing together in China, also rumored to be the last time for the three aging tenors to sing on the same stage.

"Who told you that?"Pavarotti countered the question raised by a reporter. "(the rumor-monger)It is expected to be Rudas, he always said this is the last time to attract audiences," Pavarotti joked to his agent Tibor Rudas who sat next to him.

"I had a closed-door meeting with Pavarotti and Carreras last night, I think they will sing together for at least one more time, "Rudas added.

Following Thursday's press conference, Pavarotti and Carreras, who arrived on Tuesday, will go to meet the other tenor Domingo in Soeul, where they will hold a concert on Friday night before they immediately return to Beijing.

Sammy Yang, one senior official with the organising committee, said that a concert in Seoul will not reduce the spotlight shone to Beijing considering the background and atmosphere.

"You cannot find another venue like the forbidden city. There is only one forbidden city in the world,"Yang said.

The forbidden city is the homes of more than 20 Chinese emperors in the past six centuries. The concert will be held outdoors in a plaza in front of a gate where China's emperors issued proclamations.

"And the content of the two concerts are different, and it is the first time to spend most of the time singing together instead of singing on a rotation basis,"said Yang.