One of Roger Waters' upcoming releases for some time was the operatic work, "Ca Ira". Just to give you some background, here is what was released to the press on 16th January 1996 about the work; it is worth bearing in mind that this was the state of play at the start of that year. Since then many things changed...

ROGER WATERS is finally going ahead with his project to compose a full classical opera about the French Revolution. His partner in the project is the French lyricist who wrote the novelty European pop hit 'Joe Le Taxi' for the then 15-year-old Vanessa Paradis. Waters is composing the music.

The opera is to be titled 'CA IRA': a colloquial French phrase meaning "We will work it out" or "Everything will be alright". It will be recorded later this year with a full orchestra and opera singers.

Although 51-year-old Waters does not intend to play or sing on it himself, he hopes to stage the opera in a live setting next year (1997).

"It will initially be a record but Roger always imagines everything on stage so I am sure it will be performed eventually", said his musical partner Etienne Rhodagil, who is well known in France for his books, lyrics and poetry. In the late 70's Rhodagil wrote the libretto for an opera about the Spanish Civil War and in the 80's he wrote the lyrics for an album by France's biggest pop star, Johnny Halliday.

Speaking from his home in Paris today (16/1/96), 55-year-old Rhodagil said "This opera is about the French Revolution and, at the same time, about history and politics and the feelings behind it."

Rhodagil began working on a sequence of songs about the Revolution several years ago, as a contribution to his country's celebration of its bicentenary in 1989. "It is an attempt to commemorate it but it is not just about that period of history because its themes are universal. It deals with dreams, democracy, violence, people and passion."

Rhodagil has known Waters since the mid-60's but has not previously worked with him or Pink Floyd. Roger Waters was 'not available for comment' today but his manager, Mark Fenwick, said: "Roger does not want to talk about the project while it is still in the writing process. It is not a rock opera - it is a classical modern opera and will probably be released next year."