Montserrat Caballé
María de Montserrat Bibiana Concepción Caballé i Folch[2][3] or Folc[4][5][a] (12 April 1933 – 6 October 2018), known simply as Montserrat Caballé (i Folch),[b] was a Spanish operatic soprano from Catalonia. Widely considered to be one of the best sopranos of the 20th century,[8][9] she won a variety of musical awards thoroughout her six-decade career, including three Grammy Awards.
"Caballe" redirects here. For the footballer, see Marc Caballé. For the mathematician, see Eduardo Torroja Caballe.
Montserrat Caballé
6 October 2018 (aged 85)
Cementiri de Sant Andreu, Barcelona
La Superba (The Superb One)[1]
1956–2018
2, including Montserrat Martí
- Kammersängerin
- Honorary doctorate from the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo
- Prince of Asturias Award
- Grammy Award
She performed a wide variety of roles, but is best known as an exponent of the works of Verdi and of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. She was noticed internationally when she stepped in for a performance of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at Carnegie Hall in 1965, and then appeared at leading opera houses. Her voice was described as pure but powerful, with superb control of vocal shadings and exquisite pianissimo.
Caballé is also known for her 1987 duet with Freddie Mercury, "Barcelona", recorded at the request of the International Olympic Committee for the 1992 Olympic Games. The two felt mutual admiration for each other and developed a close friendship.[10][11]
Early life[edit]
Caballé was born in Barcelona on 12 April 1933.[12] Her family was of humble financial circumstances due to the Civil War.[12] She studied music at the Liceu Conservatory, and singing technique with Napoleone Annovazzi, Eugenia Kemény and Conchita Badía. She graduated with a gold medal in 1954. She subsequently moved to Basel, Switzerland, where she made her professional debut in 1956 as a last minute replacement as Mimì in Puccini's La bohème.[13]
She became part of the Basel Opera company between 1957 and 1959, singing a repertoire that included Mozart (Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte) and Strauss (Salome) in German, unusual for Spanish singers, but which proved useful for her next engagement at the Bremen Opera (1959–1962). In 1961, she starred as Iphigénie in Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride at the National Theatre of S. Carlos in Lisbon, alongside Raymond Wolansky, Jean Cox, Paul Schöffler and others.[14]
In 1962, Caballé returned to Barcelona and debuted at the Liceu, singing the title role in Strauss's Arabella. From the fall of 1962 through the spring of 1963 she toured Mexico, at one point singing the title role in Massenet's Manon at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. This was followed by several more successful appearances at the Liceu in 1963.[15]
Tax evasion[edit]
In 2015 Caballé was under prosecution over allegations of tax evasion or fraud.[59] She admitted that despite living in Spain in 2010, she had registered in Andorra in order to avoid paying tax in Spain. In December 2015 the Spanish court found her guilty of fraud and gave her a six-month suspended jail sentence, ordering her to pay a fine of €254,231 ($280,000). She was also banned from receiving any public subsidies for a period of 18 months.[60]
Health problems and death[edit]
On 20 October 2012, during her tour in Russia, Caballé suffered a stroke in Yekaterinburg and was quickly transferred to the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona.[63]
In September 2018, she was admitted to the same hospital for a gallbladder problem.[49][64] She died there on 6 October 2018 at the age of 85. The cause of death was not given.[65][66] Felipe VI of Spain described Caballé as "the best of the best", and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez called her the great ambassador of Spain.[66] Caballé was buried in the Cementiri de Sant Andreu in Barcelona.[67]
Recordings[edit]
Caballé recorded extensively throughout her long career and made many notable recordings of complete operas as well as recital albums. After a number of recordings early in her career for RCA Victor Red Seal, Caballé also recorded for EMI, Decca, and Philips among other labels.[68] She left a "vast discography" of her major roles, including Aida, conducted by Riccardo Muti, Elisabetta in Don Carlo conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini, Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte with Colin Davis,[57] Liù in Turandot alongside Joan Sutherland and Pavarotti, conducted by Zubin Mehta,[69] and Salome with Erich Leinsdorf. She recorded many bel canto and Rossini roles. Recital recordings include a Puccini collection with Charles Mackerras, a Strauss collection with Leonard Bernstein, and duets with Shirley Verrett. She performed the soprano solo in Verdi's Requiem with John Barbirolli.[57]