Ｆ・マーキュリーさん直筆クイーンのヒット曲原稿公開　９月競売

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】競売大手サザビーズは１日、英ロックバンド「クイーン」のメインボーカルだった故フレディ・マーキュリーさん直筆の歌詞原稿を米ニューヨークで初公開した。（写真は英ロックバンド「クイーン」のフレディ・マーキュリーさん〈中央〉）
　同社は先に、１９９１年に亡くなったマーキュリーさんのゆかりの品の競売を今夏開催すると発表していた。マーキュリーさんの旧宅「ガーデンロッジ」で管理されていたステージ衣装や美術品コレクション、歌詞の直筆原稿など約１５００点が出品される。
　１日に公開された競売品の目玉は、世界的な大ヒット曲「ボヘミアン・ラプソディ」となった曲の歌詞とメロディー、１５ページ分の草稿。当時まだ運航していたブリティッシュ・ミッドランド航空の便箋に黒や青のインクや鉛筆で書かれている。
　曲名は「モンゴリアン・ラプソディ」と書かれたものが線で消され、「ボヘミアン・ラプソディ」と書き換えられている。競売での落札価格は最高１２０万ポンド（約２億円）と予想されている。
　歌詞では他にクイーン最大の代表曲とされる「伝説のチャンピオン」の歌詞９ページ、１９７６年のヒット曲「愛にすべてを」の歌詞１９ページ、「ドント・ストップ・ミー・ナウ」の歌詞７ページなどが出品される。
　その他、クイーンがバンドとして契約を結ぶ前の１９７０年代初頭に歌詞が書かれた赤いノートも公開された。この歌詞はマーキュリーさんが手掛けた最初期のものと考えられている。
　出品されるゆかりの品は今月１４～１８日に米ロサンゼルス、２６～３０日に香港を巡回した後、８月４日に英ロンドンへ戻り、９月の競売前に約１か月間、一般公開される。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/06/02-17:18）

A trove of Freddie Mercury's previously unseen handwritten draft lyrics for some of Queen's biggest hits goes on show Thursday in New York, ahead of their sale in London later this year.
The manuscripts include working drafts for Bohemian Rhapsody -- which Mercury initially planned to call Mongolian Rhapsody -- Don't Stop Me Now and Somebody to Love.
In scope, quality and exceptional provenance, the collection of lyrics together afford an unprecedented glimpse into the creative mind of one of the 20th-century's most influential songwriters, said Sotheby's, which is staging the auctions in September.
More than 1,500 items from Mercury's private collection, including costumes and unique objects as well as the draft lyrics, will feature in the eventual auctions in London and online.
Left largely untouched at his former west London home in the three decades since his death, they will be sold at live events in the British capital on September 6-8 and online August 4-September 11.
The vast array of items -- being auctioned by Mary Austin, one of the icon's closest friends who has cared for them at his former home Garden Lodge -- are expected to fetch at least £6 million ($7.5 million).
A highlight of the trove unveiled Thursday is 15 pages of lyrics and melodies that led to Bohemian Rhapsody, one of Queen's most globally beloved and streamed songs and the third best-selling UK single ever.
Written in black and blue ink and pencil, on stationery from the now-defunct British Midland Airways, they reveal Mercury originally planned to call it Mongolian Rhapsody.
- 'Mongolian Rhapsody' -
The songwriter, who died in 1991, had at some point crossed out the word Mongolian and replaced it with Bohemian.
The 15 pages are expected to fetch up to £1.2 million at the auction.
Other draft lyrics going on display include nine pages of lyrics for arguably Queen's greatest anthem, We Are The Champions, 19 pages behind 1976 hit Somebody to Love and seven leaves for Don't Stop Me Now.
Meanwhile a red notebook from the early 1970s, before Queen were signed as a band and believed to be Mercury's earliest known containing lyrics, will also be on show in New York until June 8.
Freddie Mercury's spectacular performances and songs are rightly remembered and celebrated around the world, said Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's books and manuscripts specialist.
However, thanks to the emergence of this extraordinary group of early handwritten lyrics we can now also fully appreciate the absolute skill as a lyricist which complemented his consummate showmanship.
Heaton added it cemented his standing as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation -- and beyond.
The collection of draft lyrics and other items will be in Los Angeles June 14-18 and Hong Kong June 26-30 before arriving in London August 4 for a month-long exhibition ahead of the auctions.