Monserrat Caballe

MONSERRAT CABALLE. Spanish operatic soprano who has has sung a wide variety of roles. She is known worldwide as a premier exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably within the works of Rossini / Bellini / Donizetti and Verdi. She has over the years made various excursions into the world of pop music ; her 1988 duet with rock singer Freddie Mercury of Queen resulted in "Barcelona" which became a hit single later accompanied by an album of the same name. The title track became the anthem of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Spain and as a result again appeared in the pop music charts throughout Europe during that year. She also performed the song live, accompanied by a recording by Freddie Mercury (who had died in 1991) before the 1999 UEFA Champions Leaque Final in Barcelonas Nou-Camp stadium.