Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux❤

Описание: Remembering Czech sculptor Irena Sedlecká
“I know Freddie by heart,” she once said.
Irena Sedlecká, the renowned Czech sculptor who created the iconic Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux, passed away on August 4, 2020, in London at the age of 91. Her stunning bronze statue, standing nearly 10 feet (3 meters) tall and overlooking Lake Geneva, remains a beloved tribute to the legendary Queen frontman.
The official unveiling took place on November 25, 1996, beneath the Montreux market square at 3 PM, with attendance from Freddie’s family—Bomi Bulsara, Jer Bulsara, Kashmira Cooke-Bulsara—and friends, including Brian May, Roger Taylor, Montserrat Caballé, Jim Beach, and Peter Freestone.
Irena’s work has given Freddie’s fans a lasting gift, serving as the heart of his annual birthday celebrations. Freddie himself once said, “If you want peace of soul, come to Montreux.” It was in this inspiring setting that he recorded one of his last songs, “A Winter’s Tale,” capturing the beauty of life even knowing his time was limited. Brian May reflected, “He was talking about life and its beauty at a time when he knew he hadn’t got very long to go, yet there’s no wallowing in emotion, it’s just absolutely purely observed.”
Each year, tens of thousands of fans travel to Montreux to admire the statue, a testament to Freddie’s enduring legacy.
Sedlecká recalled the project fondly: “The first time I heard Freddie Mercury sing was during the Live Aid concert. I was amazed by his voice and his ability to hypnotize and engage the audience. I just thought, ‘there’s one of the best.’ I met his girlfriend at his home, and it was all very touching. I started to like him as a person of real quality because he was already a great artist.”
She continued: “I didn’t know if anyone else was considered for this project, but I knew I had to push my limits to pay proper tribute to an artist of his caliber. I put all of myself into it, and I’m proud of the result. I never dreamed I could be involved. I was lucky to be chosen.”
Irena Sedlecká (7 September 1928 – 4 August 2020)
Czech sculptor, Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and the Society of Portrait Sculptors, she leaves behind a legacy immortalizing one of music’s greatest icons.