Montserrat Caballe

Montserrat Caballé was a Spanish soprano who was widely regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. She was born in Barcelona in 1933, and began studying music at the Liceu Conservatory at the age of nine. She graduated with a gold medal in 1954, and moved to Basel, Switzerland, where she made her professional debut as Mimì in Puccini's La bohème in 1956. She then joined the Bremen Opera, where she sang a variety of roles, including Mozart's First Lady in The Magic Flute and Strauss's Salome. Caballé's international breakthrough came in 1965, when she stepped in for a performance of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at Carnegie Hall in New York. Her voice, described as pure but powerful, with superb control of vocal shadings and exquisite pianissimo, earned her a 25-minute standing ovation. She then appeared at leading opera houses around the world, such as the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, La Scala, and the Vienna State Opera. She sang a wide range of roles, but was best known for her interpretations of Verdi and bel canto operas by Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. She was also admired for her performances of Strauss, Wagner, Gluck, Puccini, and contemporary composers. Caballé was nicknamed La Superba (The Superb One) for her vocal and artistic excellence. She won several awards throughout her career, including three Grammy Awards, the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, and the Gold Medal of Fine Arts from the Spanish government. She was also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1994, and supported various charities and causes. She was especially involved in promoting music education and supporting young singers. Caballé was also known for her 1987 duet with Freddie Mercury, "Barcelona", which became the signature song of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The two singers felt mutual admiration and friendship, and recorded an album together. Caballé sang at the opening ceremony of the Olympics with José Carreras and Plácido Domingo. Caballé married Spanish tenor Bernabé Martí in 1964, and they had two children: Montserrat Martí, who is also an opera singer, and Bernabé Martí Jr. Caballé suffered from various health problems in her later years, and had a stroke in 2012 while touring in Russia. She died in 2018 at the age of 85 from a gallbladder infection. She was buried in the Sant Andreu Cemetery in Barcelona. Her legacy continues to inspire and influence opera singers and music lovers around the world.