LONDON (Reuters) - For the first time in music history, 197 musicians – one from each country – have formed an orchestra, hoping to exemplify how people can transcend physical and cultural borders to come together.

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - For the first time in music history, 197 musicians – one from each country – have formed an orchestra, hoping to exemplify how people can transcend physical and cultural borders to come together. The Earth Orchestra's song "Together is Beautiful" - recorded in different locations then mixed together - and a documentary telling the stories of some of the musicians were released on Friday. Earth Orchestra member Olgha Nk, from Cameroon, said she saw the project, which was three years in the making, as "the whole world holding hands." Other musicians were also struck by the unifying element of the project. In May 2019, 57 of the 197 members met at Abbey Road Studios in London to lay the groundwork for the song. The project was overseen by BAFTA-winning composer George Fenton but many of the musicians improvised around his melodies and themes, combining musical styles and using instruments indigenous to their countries. Romanian musician and double bass player Michael Cretu said he felt the song was exactly what the world needed right now, "more collaborations with everybody," he said. (Reporting by Mindy Burrows Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

ODDAR MEANCHEY PROVINCE, Cambodia (Reuters) - Pakistan's lonely elephant Kaavan began his new life in a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary on Tuesday, the result of years of campaigning for his relocation by U.S. singer Cher.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The K-pop band members of BTS are offering up their outfits from the music video of their hit single "Dynamite" to the highest bidder in a Beverly Hills, California, charity auction in January.

LONDON (Reuters) - British pop star Rita Ora apologised on Monday after she admitted she had attended a party to celebrate her 30th birthday which broke England's strict COVID-19 lockdown laws.

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Taylor Swift's music has always been the most interesting thing about Taylor Swift, and she's rarely more interesting than when she's talking about her music.

ZURICH (Reuters) - Forget the oom-pah brass bands and buy gifts early - with a predrafted list to keep shopping trips efficient -- this COVID-19 Christmas season, Swiss health authorities advised the public on Friday.

ZURICH, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Forget the oom-pah brass bands and buy gifts early - with a predrafted list to keep shopping trips efficient -- this COVID-19 Christmas season, Swiss health authorities advised the public on Friday.

PARIS (Reuters) - It's an ideal pairing for the COVID-19 era: a musician who cannot play for a live audience and sumptuous museums that cannot welcome visitors. Cellist Camille Thomas has put them together to create what she hopes will be a balm for troubled times.