Queen
A Night At The Opera

THE REVIEW

There are no adjectives to describe the ultimate rock opera!

1975: four English boys, after having achieved national success, release their fourth official LP, which cost the record company a fortune, but was well rewarded by international success, thanks to twelve exceptional tracks blended perfectly. The work opens with "Death In Two Legs", preceded by a brief intro inserted in the same track, almost warning the listener of what they are about to encounter. May's guitar is essential, but... suddenly everything stops to make way for "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon", a minute of 30s cabaret music... imagine them in a brown pinstripe suit and you'll understand...
The next song is sung by Roger Taylor, "I'm In Love With My Car", returning to rock sounds with a background of car engines. "You're My Best Friend", a simple and catchy song, almost acting as an intermission in the work. May instead devotes himself to country rock with "'39", a catchy melody dominated by acoustic guitars, accompanied by the characteristic Queen harmonies, elevating the piece to a very high level. Scene change: Mercury is back at the microphone and May on the electric guitar, returning to the rock that characterized the group in that period of their career, with a fast-paced start that decisively changes in the chorus, becoming much faster and harder, leading up to May's solo. "Seaside Rendezvous", a tap dance that takes us back in time again. At this point in the work, everyone is happy and serene, but here begins the earthquake.
Track no.8: "The Prophet's Song"...8.20 to listen to all in one breath, where the group gives their best: sudden rhythm changes, while still maintaining a rock melody that is magically interrupted to make way for the legendary Freddie Mercury, who showcases his magnificent voice with chanting for about two and a half minutes, followed by May's solo and concluded with the same acoustic guitar that opens the piece, but introducing "Love Of My Life", where the piano is added with the leader expertly interpreting the lyrics, with the addition of a shy guitar at the end. A moving song that instantly captivates and enamors: majestic!!!
"Good Company" takes us back to America with a banjo and rock'n' roll worthy of the best Elvis. What to say about "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Harmonic, poetic, and hard opera at the same time, dominated by piano, guitars, and lyrical choirs, but above all by the great interpretation and expressiveness with which the leader wanted to emphasize the lyrics. I can't find other words to describe it, as to understand what is being talked about one must simply listen to it. Everything concludes with the English national anthem "God Save The Queen" which, beyond an easy play on words, underscores the great victory achieved by Queen with the release of this album, which the history of rock will never forget!