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José Carreras will get the party started early for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics when he hosts an exclusive one-night-only, open-air concert this December in the Queensland capital.
The legendary tenor leads the lineup for the Australian exclusive concert, set for Dec. 5 at the Gabba Cricket Ground, the famous oval stadium just south of the city’s CBD.
Also announced Wednesday, June 10, Robbie Williams, The Corrs, Katherine Jenkins and Ronan Keating, are among the first wave of stars booked for the Carreras & Friends experience. Other conformed performers include Savage Garden’s Darren Hayes, Natalie Imbruglia, Sheppard, Ann Wilson, and Mark Vincent, all of whom will duet with Carreras.
“I’m extremely happy, really, to have this opportunity to start celebrating already the Olympics ‘32 in Brisbane,” Carreras tells Billboard over a Zoom call from his hometown, Barcelona, “and be part of this, what we hope is, a wonderful concert.”
Carreras has a steel-strong connection with the worlds of music and sport. In 1992, he served as musical director for the Olympic Games in Barcelona, and performed at the Opening Ceremony (singing the traditional welcoming song “Welcome” or “Sardana” with Montserrat Caballé) and returned for the Closing Ceremony for performance of “Amigos Para Siempre” with Sarah Brightman.
And as a member of The Three Tenors, the legendary operatic supergroup he formed with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, Carreras performed live at four consecutive World Cup tournaments, beginning with their historic 1990 debut in Rome.
With the Olympics and Paralympics coming to the Sunshine State, “we have the possibility to create a message between sport and art and culture,” Carreras tells Billboard. “The venue is going to be perfect for it.”
The Gabba is a citadel to this sports-mad city. During the winter, it’s home to the two-time defending champion Australian Football League (AFL) franchise the Brisbane Lions. And in the summer, it’s the city’s home of cricket. Indeed, for touring international cricket teams, the Gabba has earned the amusing tag, the Gabbatoir — a place where the opposition is taken down for good.
Pop and rock concerts are rare spectacles at the Gabba, and only the biggest names in the music business have performed there. The last to do it was Taylor Swift, for her Reputation Tour in 2018. And Adele before that, for two-sold out shows in 2017.
When he takes his spot on the field, Carreras will perform with artists “that I admire,” he enthuses. “I never had the possibility to perform with them, but this is going to be the occasion.”
Williams will sing “My Way” and “Angels” with Carreras, while Hayes (“Truly Madly Deeply”), Keating (“Father & Son”), Wilson (“What About Love” and “Stairway To Heaven”) and The Corrs (“Breathless” and “Runaway”) will enjoy musical moments with a living legend, backed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and choir.
On the night, the Gabba will be turned into “a world-class concert spectacular blending timeless opera, beloved contemporary classics and powerful collaborations,” reads a statement from organizers Echo Pacific Entertainment.
“This is not a traditional concert. It’s a live music experience inspired by the magic of Pavarotti & Friends, where the world’s greatest artists come together on one stage for a night of collaboration, emotion and surprise,” comments Echo Pacific director Harley Medcalf. “To bring José Carreras together with artists of this caliber for one exclusive night in Brisbane is incredibly special. Every moment of this event has been designed to create something unforgettable.”
The general public onsale begins Monday, June 15 at 10am local time. Fans are encouraged to sign up at carrerasandfriends.live for presale access, which starts Friday, June 12 at 10am.