Freddie Mercury Exhibition Mounted at Sotheby’s In London

Published Aug 15, 2023 By Dowell

via Freddie Mercury Solo/YouTube

A collection of personal belongings that belonged to the iconic musician Freddie Mercury, including his cherished baby grand piano, is now open for the public to see at Sotheby’s in London, and there’s no admission fee.

The entire gallery space of 16,000 square feet on New Bond Street is dedicated to showcasing Mercury’s possessions. These items range from his costumes and hand-written lyrics to drawings, furniture, and various pieces of decorative and fine art.

The exhibition started on August 4th and will run until September 5th, which is significant as it marks what would have been Mercury’s birthday. Following the public exhibition, the items will be auctioned off in six separate auctions scheduled for early September.

At the center of this expansive display is Mercury’s Yamaha G2 Baby Grand Piano, which experts estimate to be worth between £2-3 million. In 1975, the late icon needed to replace his trusty upright piano, which he had used for Queen’s initial three albums.

After a long search, he discovered the baby grand piano, which could easily fit in the flat he was then sharing with Mary Austin. Speaking about the piano, Austin mentioned:

“Freddie treated the Yamaha with absolute respect. He considered it to be more than an instrument, it was an extension of himself, his vehicle of creativity. He would never smoke at the piano or rest a glass on top of it and would ensure nobody else did either. The piano was always pristine.”

This piano played a pivotal role in the creation of Mercury’s immensely popular song “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and it remained a part of his musical journey until his final composition, “Barcelona.”

Fans have the opportunity to explore the exhibition without charge during the upcoming month. The exhibition is open from 11 am to 4:30 pm on Monday to Friday, and from 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. On Friday, September 1st, the exhibition will have extended hours until 7 pm, and on Tuesday, September 5th, it will close at 1 pm.