Montserrat Caballe, the Spanish opera singer who found success in the pop world via a collaboration with Queen singer Freddie Mercury, has died aged 85.

Caballe was one of the world’s most acclaimed opera singers praised for her bel canto delivery and her interpretation of the works of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti. Outside the opera world she achieved wider recognition when she teamed up with Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of rock band Queen.

Mercury and Caballe recorded an album together, Barcelona. Mercury was approached to write a theme song for the Barcelona Olympics. Mercury loved the idea of teaming up with the opera singer who he was a great fan of, and the pair decided to make an entire album.

The album was released in 1988, sadly Mercury passed away before the Olympics were held in 1992. It was one of two albums Mercury recorded outside of Queen, and has always been seen as somewhat of a musical oddity. The collaboration was praised for showcasing the different talents of both singers.

A new version of the album was released in 2012 which saw the the 1980’s synthesizers and drum machines used on many of the tracks replaced by a full symphony orchestra.

Caballe died of an undisclosed cause in a Barcelona hospital, she had been admitted for gall bladder problems in September. Her funeral will be held on Monday.

Tributes have flowed for the singer, King Felipe VI has expressed his condolences calling the Spanish opera singer “a legend of universal culture.”

The king’s official Twitter account said that Caballe was “the great lady of opera, legend of universal culture, the best of the best.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: “A great ambassador of our country has died” and “Montserrat Caballe, her voice and your gentleness will stay with us forever.”      

Tenor Jose Carreras said the world had lost it’s best soprano. Speaking to Catalunya Radio Carreras said that “of all the sopranos that I have heard live, I have never heard anyone like Montserrat.”

Carreras, who is from Barcelona, praised her “versatility,” saying “she could do everything from the purest bel canto all the way to Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.”

Caballe made her professional debut in 1956 with the Basel Opera Company in Switzerland. She would go on to perform in over 90 different operas and deliver over 4,000 performances.

OIP Staff

OIP Staff