100Singers's video: 100 Singers - In Memoriam: MONTSERRAT CABALL

"She opened for us the door to an unknown world", said Montserrat Caballé about Callas. And after the great Greek soprano, Montserrat Caballé (together with Marilyn Horne and Joan Sutherland) belonged to the most admirable sustainers of the rediscovered bel canto. Caballé caused a furore as Donizetti's LUCREZIA BORGIA in 1965 (the RCA recording with Alfredo Kraus is still unsurpassed) and Queen Elizabeth I. in ROBERTO DEVEREUX. Her Met debut as Margarethe in Gounod's FAUST took place the same year, followed by various appearances at famous music festivals (Mozart's Countess and Strauss' Marschallin in Glyndebourne). With Imogene in Bellini's IL PIRATA, Caballé added another bel canto part in 1967 and became a specialist for Italian opera music of the early 19th century. In the 1970's, Caballé excelled in roles such as MARIA STUARDA, NORMA and Rossini's SEMIRAMIDE - and all this besides the usual heroines from the well-known repertoire of Verdi, Puccini, Ponchielli and Cilea. As a result of her massive stature, Montserrat Caballé became early a target of cartoonists and funny anecdotes. With the 1992 duet "Barcelona" together with Freddy Mercury, she proved salesmanship and self-irony. It was her biggest commercial success ... Montserrat Caballé was admired for her superb technique, especially her extraordinary and exquisite pianissimo singing. Beyond the stage, Caballé has dedicated herself to various charities. One of her last appearances on an opera stage took place in 2007 as the old Duchess in Donizetti's LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT. The great Spanish soprano died on October 6, 2018. If you would like to share your thoughts with us, please leave a comment: