MIAMI, United States. — They say that once, during an interview, they asked the soprano María Callas who would be able to replace her, to which she answered without hesitation: “Only Caballé”, referring to the prodigious lyrical singer born in Barcelona, who would be ninety today years.
Considered one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, Montserrat Caballé was admired and recognized for her impeccable vocal technique, capable of interpreting a complex and varied operatic repertoire.
It was thanks to the solfeggio classes she received from her mother and the support of a wealthy family that the child prodigy was able to enroll at just eleven years old at the Liceu Superior Music Conservatory in Barcelona. In 1955 she got her first major role of hers, playing The Serva Padronaby Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, in theaters in his hometown and Valencia.
The young soprano began to make headlines among the opera-loving public and specialized critics. In 1956, with the company of the Musical Theater of Basel, she made her debut outside of Spain, assuming the role of Mimi in la bohemeby Puccini. The protagonists followed rough (Puccini), aida (Verdi), Arabella and Salome, both by Strauss, and by 1960 she was already hired by the Bremen Opera for a full season. Caballé specialized in the papers of the bel canto. Like Callas, she constantly studied the characters and scripts, achieving spectacular performances.
The great opportunity to jump to world stardom came in 1965, in the carnegie hallfrom New York, when he had to replace the soprano Marilyn Horne in the operatic version of Lucrezia Borgia. They say that part of the public, disappointed, was preparing to demand a refund, when the word spread about who she was and how Montserrat Caballé sang.
That night the Spanish diva was established. Among the many compliments that the New York press directed at her, she was defined as the perfect combination between María Callas and Renata Tebaldi, a compliment that justly calibrated her talent.
Montserrat Caballé appeared on the most prestigious stages in the world —Metropolitan Opera House, La Scala, Royal Opera House—, and in all of them she was applauded by the audience, who fell at her feet. But what definitely made her transcend for all kinds of audiences was her interpretation, along with the legendary Freddy Mercury, of the theme Barcelona —included in the homonymous album—, which became the hymn of the 1992 Olympic Games, held in that city.
Montserrat Caballé performed operas from all periods, from the Baroque to the romanticism of Richard Wagner, passing through the Italian veristas. Likewise, she dabbled in pop, she participated in the album Purest Sara —tribute to sarah montiel— and performed pieces by the famous Greek composer Vangelis.
Among the many awards and distinctions that were awarded to him, the French Legion of Honor and the Spanish National Music Award stand out.
