The Grammy-winning soprano Montserrat Caballé’s 89th birthday is Tuesday, therefore Google has dedicated its Doodle to her in honour of the occasion. Check out the information below to learn more about her.
Who Exactly was Montserrat Caballe?
Formerly known as Mara de Montserrat Bibiana Concepción Caballé I Folch, she entered this world on April 12, 1933, in Barcelona, Spain.
She was the Spanish opera soprano Montserrat Caballe, also called La Superba. Her music is what will live on after her death, despite her “larger-than-life” reputation.
During her lifetime, she became a household name around the world because to her operatic career. Duetting with Queen’s Freddie Mercury on their 1987 hit “Barcelona,” which introduced her to a new audience outside of classical music, her fame quickly spread.
With a peak position of No. 8 on the UK singles chart, it was a commercial success for the opera singer across Europe. It was performed at Freddie’s final concert in 1988 at the La Nit Festival in Barcelona.
The song eventually reached No. 2 on the UK charts and became the unofficial anthem of the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona.
But due to Freddie’s passing in 1991, the performance was scrapped from the Olympic lineup. In particular, Montserrat Caballe’s bel canto style made her a household name.
Montserrat Caballe Early Years
Mara de Montserrat In 1933, in Barcelona, Spain, Bibiana Concepción Caballé I Folch entered the world. La Superba is another name for her that has caught on. In 2018, at age 85, Montserrat Caballe left us.
In 1965, Cabellé rose to fame after being invited to play in a Carnegie Hall production of Lucrezia Borgia. Although it was only her first performance, it was her first opera in the “bel canto” style.
Because of her worldwide fame, she earned the moniker “La Superba” over time. In 1968, she recorded La bohème and won the Grammy for Best Classical Vocal Performance.
Montserrat Caballe Life Career
Beyond her musical prowess, her flamboyant persona was what really made her famous. In 1965, Montserrat Caballe had her debut performance in the United States, marking the beginning of her professional career as a singer.
Caballe had a career lasting more than 50 years, beginning with appearances at the Basel Opera and the Bremen Opera. After that, she continued her career by singing with the likes of the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Vienna State Opera.
Her exceptional bel canto singing used to win her many fans. This Italian vocal style puts more of an emphasis on the quality of the voice itself and the artistry of the performance than it does on conveying any sort of dramatic or emotional content.
According to a major American newspaper, Bel canto is the “quintessential method to sing opera.” This is according to The Washington Post, one of the most prestigious newspapers in the United States.
She was nominated for a Grammy an impressive five times, and she took home the trophy in 1968. Though she was born in Spain, she really made her professional debut in Switzerland before heading to Germany.
Over the course of his career, Caballé appeared in more than 3,800 performances across five continents, in more than eighty different roles.
In 1992, she caused a stir when she and Freddie Mercury released “Barcelona,” which became the official anthem of the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Not only is she a fantastic professional singer, but she also does a lot of good in the world. She started the Montserrat Caballé Foundation to encourage and nurture new artists in Barcelona.
At age 82, the singer was convicted of tax fraud and given a six-month prison sentence with suspension. She admitted that she had formerly resided in Spain but had subsequently become a tax resident of Andorra.
She was fined $280,000 (€254,231) and barred from receiving welfare for nearly 18 months.
What is a Google Doodle?
Google creates a new Doodle every year to celebrate special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones.
With their first Google Doodle, Larry Page and Sergey Brin paid tribute to the Burning Man festival in Nevada.
To mark Nomhle Nkonyeni’s 80th birthday on April 8, 2022, Google released a Doodle before the one honouring Montserrat Caballe.
The Google Doodle Honouring Montserrat Caballe was Celebrated?
Google has made its own Doodle in honour of Montserrat Caballe’s 89th birthday.
Google wished La Superba a happy 89th birthday. You may see that “Your legacy lives on” (your name) is written in Google Doodle.
She was nominated for five Grammys during the course of her career. Her first Grammy was awarded to her in 1968 for “Best Classical Vocal Performance.” She never made her first public appearance in her native Spain.
She debuted in Switzerland before heading to Germany. Montserrat Caballe sang over 3800 times in 80 roles across 5 continents during his lifetime. She gave back to the community in addition to her successful music career.
Personal life & Death
Caballé was married to Bernabé Martí (1928–2022). The couple shared two children.
She was admitted to the Hospital de Sant pau in 2018 for a gallbladder problem. She passed away on 6th October 2018.
