The Beatles Love By Cirque Du Soleil Performs Opening Act To Honor Sir Paul McCartney At The 2012 MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Cast members from The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil performed live last night at the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center. All 60 dancers and acrobats from LOVE performed to a specially edited track by Producer Giles Martin, featuring songs from the two-time GRAMMY^® Award-winning LOVE album.

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Iconic artist and philanthropist Paul McCartney was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year at this special event celebrating his exceptional artistic achievements as well as his philanthropic work. The sold-out tribute to McCartney benefits MusiCares' emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs. Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute — now in its 22^nd year — provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that members of the music community have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

Additional performances included multi-GRAMMY^® winning artists and current GRAMMY nominees Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas; GRAMMY winning artist Duane Eddy; multi-GRAMMY winning artists Norah Jones, Alicia Keys and James Taylor; two-time GRAMMY winning artists Diana Krall and Neil Young with Crazy Horse; two-time Latin GRAMMY winning artist Sergio Mendes; and current GRAMMY nominee Katy Perry. The evening also featured a special performance by 14-time GRAMMY winning artist and 2012 MusiCares^® Person of the Year Paul McCartney.

LOVE, a Cirque du Soleil creation and co-production with Apple Corps Ltd., celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles and is presented exclusively at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. This joint artistic venture marks the first time that The Beatles company, Apple Corps Ltd., has agreed to a major theatrical partnership. The project was born out of a personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte.

Since its June 2006 premiere, LOVE has performed over 2,000 shows for more than 4.3 million people. Recently named "Best Show in Las Vegas" by USA Today, LOVE has been voted "Best Show in Las Vegas" by the Las Vegas Review-Journal for four consecutive years and continues to be a celebrity favorite. In February 2011, The Beatles' GRAMMY Award-winning LOVE album and 'All Together Now' documentary made their digital debuts, exclusively on iTunes.

SOURCE Cirque du Soleil

Cara L. Abrahams, Cirque du Soleil, [email protected], [phone]

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120211/MM49427

PRN Photo Desk, [email protected]

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