Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballé, who once collaborated with Queen’s Freddie Mercury on the 1992 Barcelona Olympic theme song, has died at aged 85.
Caballé had been unwell since 2012 after suffering a stoke. Her cause of death was listed as gallbladder infection.
Caballé was married to Spanish tenor Bernabé Marti. They had two children. One daughter Monserrat Marti is also an opera singer.
Montserrat Caballé and Freddie Mercury teamed up in 1987 for the song ‘Barcelona’. It appeared on Queen Greatest Hits III. He had mentioned in a 1986 interview in Spain that he would like to meet her. When Spain was chosen for the Summer Olympics of 1992, Caballé suggested she make the song with Freddie. The sessions expanded to a full album.
‘Barcelona’ was written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran, who also appears in the video playing piano.
Montserrat Caballé was made a Dame Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1966 and the Civil Oder of Alfonso X, the Wise in 1975 in Spain. She was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Barcelona in 2011.
She has also won Grammy Awards for Rossini Rarities in 1966, Puccini’s ‘La bohéme’ in 1968 and Mozart’s ‘Così fan tutte’ in 1974.
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