Country

:

Spain

Birth

:

April 12, 1933 in Barcelona, Spain

Death

:

October 6, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain

Genre

:

Opera

 

Montserrat Caballé was a Spanish soprano who was born on April 12, 1933, in Barcelona, Spain. She was the daughter of a musician and began her musical training at a young age. Caballé studied at the Liceu Conservatory in Barcelona and made her professional debut in 1956 at the Basel Opera in Switzerland. Caballé quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and her ability to sing a wide range of roles. She became known for her performances of the bel canto repertoire, particularly the works of Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini. She also excelled in the works of Verdi and Puccini. In 1965, Caballé made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, where she received critical acclaim for her performance as Lucrezia Borgia in Donizetti's opera of the same name. She went on to perform at many of the world's leading opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Paris Opera. One of Caballé's most famous performances was her portrayal of Norma in Bellini's opera of the same name. Her interpretation of the role was considered one of the greatest of the 20th century. She also received critical acclaim for her performances in Verdi's Aida and Puccini's Turandot. Caballé was known for her collaborations with other great singers, including Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. She performed with Domingo in a number of productions, including Verdi's La traviata and Puccini's Tosca. She also performed with Pavarotti in a number of concerts and recordings. In addition to her work in opera, Caballé was also known for her performances of Spanish art songs and zarzuela, a form of Spanish operetta. She recorded a number of albums of this repertoire, including a collection of songs by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. Caballé received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1987, she was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, one of Spain's highest honors. She was also awarded the National Music Prize by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 1991. Caballé continued to perform well into her 70s, despite health problems that forced her to cancel some performances. She gave her final performance in 2014, at the age of 81, in a concert in St. Petersburg, Russia. Montserrat Caballé died on October 6, 2018, at the age of 85. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, known for her powerful voice, her versatility, and her ability to bring emotion and drama to her performances.

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