Michael Jackson tribute planned in Vienna palace

Related Video

Video

Talk of the Town

Mon, Aug 10 2009
A fan points at a monitor revealing a picture of Michael Jackson as a mounted police officer looks on outside the Staples Center following a memorial service for Jackson in Los Angeles July 7, 2009.REUTERS/Joshua Lott

A fan points at a monitor revealing a picture of Michael Jackson as a mounted police officer looks on outside the Staples Center following a memorial service for Jackson in Los Angeles July 7, 2009.

Credit: Reuters/Joshua Lott

VIENNA | Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:17pm EDT

VIENNA (Reuters) - Vienna's Schoenbrunn Palace is planned to provide the stage for a high-profile tribute to the "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, at the end of September, organizers of the concert said on Tuesday.

Michael Jackson's older brother Jermaine is inviting artists to perform in front of Schoenbrunn, once home of Austria-Hungary's last Emperor Franz Josef, where the show's producers expect an audience of at least 85,000.

Schoenbrunn is regularly used as a venue for the annual summer concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

"The concept of The Tribute is that some of the world's leading artists will perform Michael Jackson's greatest hits live on stage in an imperial setting, befitting the King of Pop," producers World Awards Media said on its website.

Jermaine Jackson announced in CNN's Larry King talk show last week that the concert will take place in Vienna, not in London as has been expected. He will also present the show, provisionally scheduled to take place between September 22 and 27.

"I have invited many of the most acclaimed talents of our time," Jermaine Jackson said on the website promoting the concert, "and many have already confirmed to perform in honor of my beloved brother."

Jermaine Jackson added that he expected the tribute to be the first of an annual series of charity concerts that keep his brother's "humanitarian legacy" alive.

"I want to make people aware of the humanitarian side of Michael," Jermaine Jackson said.

"I want to show them how his true emphasis wasn't music, or performing; it was improving the world. Understand this, and you begin to understand the essence of who my brother was."

World Awards Media said that "a substantial portion of the proceeds" will be donated to three charities. Both the date and the artist line-up will be announced shortly, after finishing talks with the city of Vienna about the concert's settings.

Tickets go on sale August 20.

(Reporting by Boris Groendahl; Editing by Jon Boyle and Paul Casciato)

Entertainment News From the Wrap

Photo

Scott Rudin's Grammy Win Puts Him in Elite Company 1:34am EST

"Book of Mormon" producer Scott Rudin becomes only the 11th person to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards

Photo

Uggie Is Top Dog at the Golden Collar Awards, Of Course 13 Feb 2012

Uggie from "The Artist" wins the film award at thoroughly silly awards show; "Modern Family" dog Brigitte wins for TV

Photo

Michael Bay Directing Next 'Transformers' Film 13 Feb 2012

Paramount signs action maestro to two picture deal that will include "Pain and Gain" with Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Photo

Whitney Houston's Death: Why the Media Sidestepped the Lurid Details 12:44am EST

Media outlets have struggled to strike a balance between honoring "The Bodyguard" star's legacy and acknowledging her sad final act

Comments (0)
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.