PRAGUE, (Reuters) – British pop star George Michael returned to the stage late on Monday for an emotional performance at the opulent Prague State Opera where he announced his split from long-term partner Kenny Goss.
The former Wham! singer took the sell-out crowd through a range of covers and rare performances of songs during the first of 195 concerts on his “Symphonica” tour — his first since leaving jail last October after serving a month for crashing his car while on drugs.
Michael clearly enjoyed himself during his first outing with the Czech National Symphony behind him, though he showed some nerves at times in the 123-year old opera house.
“I don’t know what to do,” he joked to the crowd early in the show.
The 48-year-old, wearing his trademark sunglasses and donning a dark suit, also paid tribute to the late Amy Winehouse and came close to tears before diving into a melancholy cover of her “Love is a Losing Game.”
He also showed his emotions when revealing to the crowd that he had not been with Goss for two-and-a-half years mainly due to his former partner’s struggles with alcohol.
