This Is Guernsey

By Nicci Martel

Jose Carreras relaxes back stage yesterday. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0658860)

A FUND that helps those with Alzheimer’s and the elderly is well worth supporting, according to opera superstar Jose Carreras.

The famous tenor was in Guernsey last night to perform at a fund-raising dinner for the Maison Million Home Appeal.

He said it had been a pleasure to take part in such an event.

Used to performing at such venues as the Royal Albert Hall and despite being inundated with offers, Mr Carreras said it was the evening’s worthy cause which had caught his eye.

‘I think that any initiative that tries to help people with Alzheimer’s disease and the elderly is always worthwhile. Unfortunately, quite often, these people are forgotten about and any effort directed in that area is extremely, extremely important,’ said the 61-year-old Spaniard.

He waived his fee to perform at the dinner, which was the second time he had done so in Guernsey. He was previously here in 2003 and regretted that this time he had very little time to sightsee.

‘It is a pleasure to perform here and to be back in the island. St James is a lovely hall and it helps that it has great acoustics.’

He spends much of his time performing in aid of the Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation, which he set up in 1988 after recovering from the disease himself.

Despite being given a one in 10 chance of survival by medical specialists, he survived after undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

It wasn’t until 1990 that Mr Carreras became a household name, performing as one of the Three Tenors on the eve of the World Cup Final alongside Placido Domingo and the late Luciano Pavarotti, who died of pancreatic cancer in September last year.

Only recently, Mr Carreras joined Mr Domingo to perform at a Pavarotti tribute concert.

‘We will never forget him and what he was to us,’ said Mr Carreras.

Article posted on 21st October, 2008 - 2.29pm