The event, staged in a quiet precinct of Paris’ 5th arrondissement, transformed the streets into an impromptu concert hall, stunning locals and passersby alike.
Cohen revealed that the idea had been brewing for years. “I had actually the idea of doing a kind of full Bohemian Rhapsody flash mob performance ever since I started posting videos on social media,” he explained. “That was about two years ago. So, I just had this idea in the back of my mind. And I was waiting for like the right moment and the right people, especially Mickey Kalisto, the singer who performed the lead singing part. And yeah, when I found a performance of him, I was like, ‘Okay, he’s the one and I’m going to organize everything around him.’ And then little by little the ideas came of, like, the windows and everything. So it was really little by little and then, you know, you have crazy ideas and you’re like, I could never do that and you’re like, well, what if? What would it take to do it? And then you just get caught up and you start doing it.”
That moment arrived when he discovered the talents of lead singer Michael Spence, also known as Mickey Callisto, whose previous Britain’s Got Talent performance of Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever had already drawn international acclaim.
The performance also featured 11-year-old guitar prodigy Olly Pearson and an ensemble of 20 opera singers, whose harmonies rang out from windows lent by excited local residents. “I spent a lot of time convincing them to let us use their windows,” Cohen said. “Once they heard it was Bohemian Rhapsody, everyone was thrilled to be part of it.”
With the help of 30 musicians, a Shigeru Kawai piano, and a skilled creative team, Cohen orchestrated a performance that kept audiences guessing where the next note would come from. Artists appeared from balconies, shops, and even under blankets, blending surprise and spectacle as they delivered Queen’s iconic 1975 hit from A Night at the Opera.
Taking center stage, Callisto arrived in a carriage, his voice impressively channeling Freddie Mercury as he effortlessly shifted through registers.
Pearson’s electrifying solo was complemented by the opera choir’s climactic harmonies, filling the square with sound. Café patrons and pedestrians couldn’t help but sway, sing, and cheer, fully immersed in the spontaneous musical theater unfolding around them.
The flash mob has since gone viral across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, drawing nearly 30 million likes. Fans praised the spectacle, noting moments like a devoted viewer proudly showing a Bohemian Rhapsody tattoo during the performance. Cohen reflected on the overwhelming reception: “I’m so happy you guys are enjoying this. My team and I put so much work into making this video; your love and comments mean a lot to me.”
The stunt not only celebrated the enduring power of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody—a song known for bringing people together but also showcased Cohen’s talent for turning ordinary urban spaces into unforgettable musical experiences.