Person Biography:
Montserrat Caballé was born into a working-class family in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Despite the challenges, her family nurtured her musical talent, and she began singing classical cantatas at the age of seven. Caballé's remarkable voice earned her a scholarship to study at the Conservatorio Superior de Música in Barcelona, where she graduated with the best award in 1954.
Her professional debut came the following year in the leading female role in the opera "La serva padrona" by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. Caballé's career took off, with engagements at theaters in Basel and Bremen, where she learned to speak the local language fluently. Her breakthrough came in 1965 when she replaced Marilyn Horne in a concert performance of "Lukrezia Borga" at Carnegie Hall in New York, earning her international recognition and a permanent contract with the Metropolitan Opera.
Caballé's marriage to tenor Bernabé Marti in 1964 added another dimension to her career, as she often performed alongside him in opera productions. Her favorite composers included Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, and Puccini, and she regularly performed as a concert singer.
In 1986, Caballé was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, but she continued to perform, including a legendary collaboration with Freddie Mercury on the rock crossover title "Barcelona" for the 1992 Olympic Games. This and other engagements showcased her versatility as an artist.
Caballé's comeback as an opera diva came in 2002 at the Gran Teatro del Liceo in Barcelona, followed by a return to the stage of the Vienna State Opera in 2007. Throughout her career, she received numerous awards, including the Order of Doña Isabel La Católica, the Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the French Cross of Honor for Arts and Science.
Caballé's legacy extends beyond her remarkable voice and extensive repertoire. She is a United Nations ambassador and has used her platform to promote peace and cultural understanding. With over 90 opera roles and 4,000 performances, Montserrat Caballé is widely regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of all time.
