Opera singer Montserrat Caballe has died. Photo gallery

Montserrat Caballe - famous Opera singer from Spain. She has a beautiful feminine soprano timbre. Collaborated with famous Russian opera and pop singer Nikolai Baskov.

Biography

We must admit that the biography of the singer is quite interesting. Her full name very long – Maria de Montserrat Vivianne Concepcion Caballe and Folk. As soon as she started performing on stage, the girl replaced her long name to a shorter and more memorable one.

Montserrat Caballe was born in the difficult thirties into a poor working-class family. Her life in her youth cannot be envied. They lived poorly: their father worked at a factory that produced chemical fertilizers, and their mother worked part-time in a variety of places. In addition to the daughter, there were also boys in the family.

The girl grew up gloomy and withdrawn, had little contact with her peers, and art became her only outlet.

With the help of family friends - wealthy patrons of the arts - young Montserrat managed to get a job at the local conservatory. As she grew older, she began performing in the best Barcelona theaters and on leading concert venues. Her charming voice quickly brought her to the first roles in the theater, and they began to give her many solo roles.

In the seventies, the popularity of Montserrat Caballe in Spain, Italy, and throughout the world reached unprecedented levels. cosmic heights. The fees quickly made her rich, and aspiring singers were ready to tear each other to pieces for the opportunity to perform a duet with her.

The singer was awarded many orders and medals, for example:

  • Order of Friendship (from the government of the Russian Federation).
  • Order of Arts and Letters (from the French government).
  • Order of Princess Olga (from the government of Ukraine).

This list is far from complete. In total, the singer has about ten different awards and titles.

Also the great opera diva there were some problems with the law: in particular, she was tried for fraud (tax evasion) in home country. In court, the singer admitted her guilt, and, most likely, she will have to serve a suspended sentence (after all, the woman is over eighty years old). The opera actress may also have to pay a large fine to the state.

Montserrat Caballe was married and has two children. I wonder what her daughter Montserrat's choice life path followed in her mother's footsteps: she is also a popular opera singer in her native Spain.

Contribution to art

Montserrat Caballe is fluent in the technique of performing “bel canto”, thanks to which she was able to take part in many performances of the classical repertoire.

According to numerous listeners, her voice sank deep into the soul as soon as she began to sing.

The singer’s contribution to art is incredibly great:

  • During her life, she played more than 88 roles in operas, operettas and musical performances.
  • She performed approximately 800 chamber works.
  • She released the album “Barcelona” together with Freddie Mercury, the famous lead singer of the group “Queen”.

The last fact is especially interesting, since it is clear that rock was not the most convenient and familiar style for the Spanish singer. Nevertheless, the album sold out very quickly and almost immediately brought both outstanding musicians a lot of money.

Nikolai Baskov also sang with the singer.

Montserrat's song, which is dedicated to her " small homeland", Barcelona, ​​became one of the two official anthems Olympic Games, held there in the summer of 1992.

Montserrat Caballe can rightfully be called a great man; a woman who changed the world through her songs and music. This singer has become a kind of singing symbol of her native Spain, glorifying her homeland throughout the world. Author: Irina Shumilova

On Saturday, October 6, the world of opera suffered a heavy loss - the great Montserrat Caballe died at the age of 86. Her biography, family, husband and children - everything was connected with art; there is not a person on Earth who would not hear her amazing singing and would not recognize the artist in the photograph.


According to journalists, the woman was admitted to a Barcelona clinic on September 19, complaining of bladder problems. It should be noted that the owner of the magnificent bel canto began to experience health difficulties in her early youth. Once upon a time, Caballe fell into terrible accident and received a severe traumatic brain injury, as a result of which a certain part of the woman’s brain atrophied.


He was responsible for burning fat, and now Caballe began to gain weight even from a glass of water. But neither painful obesity nor deteriorating health forced the opera Diva to give up her favorite work - she shone on stage until the very last day.

Biography facts

The real name of the artist is difficult for a completely uninitiated person to pronounce - Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepcion Caballe y Folk. The girl was named after the sacred mountain located near the home of the future star.


Montserrat Caballe


Montserrat Caballe died: cause of death, biography, last news

In the most difficult moments, Montserrat worked part-time in a weaving factory, a haberdashery store and a sewing workshop. At school, her classmates teased her for her aloofness and outdated clothes. Meanwhile, the talented girl spent every centime she earned on additional classes in Italian and French.

Happy meeting

Beltran Mata, a local patron of new talents and a great lover, accidentally learned about the younger Caballe’s magnificent talent. classical music. He was the one who paid further training Maria at the famous Liceo Conservatory, from which the girl brilliantly graduated 4 years later.



Armen Dzhigarkhanyan: latest news 2018

Personal life

For a long time, in the biography of Montserrat Caballe there was no place for a family, husband, or children. Your first and only love the woman met at the age of 30, when she had long ago given up on her dream of finding a life partner. Quite unexpectedly for herself, the woman fell in love with the voice and only then with the man himself.


Montserrat Caballe and Bernabe Marti


The celebrity's chosen one was baritone Bernabe Marti. They met at a concert that traditionally accompanies bullfighting, and subsequently Caballe invited the artist to replace her colleague, who fell ill the day before the performance.

Their relationship at first was far from the most romantic - the woman was irritated by the timidity of the man, who showed his temperament only on stage. She ended up provoking Marty and then reprimanded him for his indiscreet behavior. Gradually he fell in love with this unpredictable and great woman so much so that after his marriage he left touring, devoting himself entirely to his family and children.


The beloved paid Bernabe in return, and soon the couple had 2 children:


Montserrat Caballe and daughter


Now the daughter of the opera diva is considered a worthy heir to her talent; she is in demand among the most prominent producers and organizers of performances.

Cause of death of the artist

IN Lately the singer often found herself a client of various hospitals. Age affected heavy weight and a whole bunch of related diseases.


Until her departure, on October 6, 2018, Montserrat Caballe considered herself happy woman in the world, having a magnificent, friendly family, loving husband and children and a stunningly vivid biography.

Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballe.

Origin and education

Montserrat Caballe (full name - Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepcion Caballe y Folk) was born in Barcelona on April 12, 1933 in the family of a factory worker. Since childhood, she showed interest in music and was fond of singing. She studied music and vocals at the Liceu Conservatory in Barcelona, ​​where she graduated with a gold medal in 1954.

Music career

After completing her studies, she went to Italy and then to Basel (Switzerland). She made her debut at the Basel Opera as Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's La bohème. In 1958 she sang at the Vienna State Opera, and in 1960 she first appeared on the stage of La Scala (Milan). She became famous for her soprano voice and bel canto technique. Caballe gained international fame in 1965 when she replaced American singer Marilyn Horne in Gaetano Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at Carnegie Hall (New York). In 1970 she performed one of her best games- Norma in the opera of the same name by Vincenzo Bellini. With this part in 1974 she came on her first tour to Moscow. Subsequently, she performed in Russia several times, last concert singer in Moscow took place in June 2018 as part of a tour dedicated to her 85th birthday.

In total, the singer’s repertoire included over 125 opera roles. She was called "senora soprano" and "great prima donna." She performed at such venues as Covent Garden (London), Metropolitan Opera (New York), Grand Opera (Paris), and also toured with concert programs. She has worked with outstanding orchestras and conductors of our time - Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, James Levine, Georg Solti. She performed with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Alfredo Kraus. She contributed to the career of José Carreras, who made his debut in 1970 as Flavio in Norma. The singer took notice of the young tenor, and Carreras became one of her favorite partners; they sang together in more than 15 operas.

In the 1980s, Caballe collaborated with rock musician Freddie Mercury. In 1988, their joint album Barcelona was released. Its theme song, Barcelona, ​​became one of the two anthems of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In 1997, the singer released the disc “Friends for Life,” where she recorded works of rock and pop music. Her partners were Carlos Cano, Bruce Dickinson, Johnny Holiday, Lisa Nilsson and others. In the same year, the rock ballad One Life One Soul was recorded together with the Swiss rock band Gotthard. In addition, she collaborated with the Italian singer Al Bano and the Greek composer and electronic music performer Vangelis.

In 2002, after a 10-year break caused by illness, Caballe sang the role of Catherine of Aragon in Camille Saint-Saëns' opera " Henry VIII" (at the Liceu Opera House, Barcelona), in 2004 - the title role in Jules Massenet's opera Cleopatra (Liceu, Barcelona), and in 2007 - the Duchess of Krakenthorp in Gaetano Donizetti's opera Daughter of the Regiment (Vienna State Opera). In 2016, Caballe performed a concert in Sofia (Bulgaria).

Charity

Caballe was studying charitable activities. Thus, the singer donated the entire proceeds from the concert in Paris dedicated to her 60th anniversary to the World AIDS Research Fund. In November 2000, as part of international program“Stars of the World for Children” she performed in Moscow with a concert, the proceeds from which went to help gifted disabled children.

Confession

The singer was awarded orders and medals various countries, including the Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic, the French Order of Arts and Letters, and the Russian Order of Friendship.

She received several Grammy awards, including Best Vocal Solo (1969).

In 1994 she became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Personal information

In 1964 she married tenor Bernabe Marti. The family has two children: son Bernabe Marti and daughter Montserrat Marti, an opera singer.

It is known that relatives of Montserrat Caballe on the maternal side live in St. Petersburg, who were taken to Soviet Union during civil war in Spain in the 1930s.

(full name - Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepcion Caballe i Folch, cat. Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepcion Caballe i Folch) was born in Barcelona on April 12, 1933.

The name of the future singer was given in honor of the local sacred mountain, where there is a monastery named after Our Lady, whom the Catalans call Saint Mary of Montserrat.

In 1954, Montserrat Caballe graduated with honors from the Philharmonic Dramatic Lyceum of Barcelona. During her studies, she helped a family that was in a difficult financial situation, and worked as a saleswoman, cutter, seamstress, while simultaneously studying English and French.

Thanks to the patronage of the Beltran family of philanthropists, Mata Montserrat was able to pay for her studies at the Barcelona Lyceum, and then this family recommended the singer to go to Italy, paying her all expenses.

In Italy, Montserrat Caballe was accepted into the Maggio Fiorentino theater (Florence).

International recognition came to Montserrat Caballe in 1965, when she replaced American singer Marilyn Horne as Lucrezia Borgia at New York's Carnegie Hall. Her performance became a sensation in the world of opera. The audience applauded the unknown singer for 20 minutes.

In the same 1965, Caballe performed at the Glyndebourne Festival and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, and since 1969 she has sung several times at La Scala. Monserrat's voice sounded in London's Covent Garden, the Paris Grand Opera, and the Vienna State Opera.

In 1970, on the stage of La Scala, Montserrat Caballe sang one of her best roles - Norma from the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini.

Montserrat Caballe organizes projects for young vocalists: conducts his own vocal competition, patronizes the project "Voices of Montserrat Caballe".

The singer is actively involved in charity work. She is an Honorary UN Ambassador and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Established a fund to help sick children under the auspices of UNESCO.

Montserrat Caballe celebrated her 60th birthday with a concert in Paris, the entire proceeds of which went to the World AIDS Research Fund.

In 2000, she took part in a Moscow charity concert as part of the international program “World Stars for Children,” organized to help gifted disabled children. She gave charity concerts in support of the Dalai Lama, as well as Jose Carreras, when he began to have health problems.

The singer has won many prestigious international awards. She was awarded orders and medals from various countries, including the Spanish Order of Isabel, the French Order of the Commander of Arts and Letters, and the gold medal of the Academy of Letters, Science and Art of Italy.

Montserrat Caballe is married to opera singer Bernabe Marty. They have two children: a son, Bernabe Marti, and a daughter, Montserrat Marti, who also became an opera singer.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Childhood

Anna Caballe made her husband happy by giving birth to a daughter, who was named Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepcion Caballe and Folk is the singer’s full name.

There were no nobles or intellectuals in the Montserrat family. She grew up in a working class environment. My father was involved in the production of chemical fertilizers and worked as a factory worker. The singer’s mother worked wherever she had to.

It is also known that relatives on the mother’s side were deported to the USSR. They still live in St. Petersburg. And every time Caballe comes on tour to Russia, she is a frequent guest of St. Petersburg, her kindred spirits. Brings them foreign gifts.

Since childhood, Caballe has been drawn to music and singing. She constantly listened to the performances of her favorite artists. At an early age, the future diva was already a student at the Lyceum in Barcelona. Next, Montserrat learns singing from the best teachers. To help her parents, she gets a job. Whatever the star was: a saleswoman, a seamstress, a cutter. She combined everything with her studies. At the same time I studied foreign languages French and English.

Caballe completed her studies at the Lyceum brilliantly. The gold medal was in her pocket.

Creative path

While still studying at the Lyceum, Montserrat was noticed. Her voice, her manner of performance. She was recommended to go to Italy to audition for the theater. But she didn’t have the finances to go and live there. Then the Beltran Mata family of philanthropists, who treated talented young artists with condescension, wrote her a letter of recommendation for the then-famous baritone Raimundo Torres. The Beltran Mata will pay all travel expenses. According to all the recommendations, Caballe is accepted into the theater.

During her performance in the theater, the director was a spectator in the hall Opera House Basel. He was simply fascinated by her voice, her appearance. After the performance, she was offered a job in Bezel. Of course, Caballe agrees, leaving for Switzerland for a year.


Montserrat was once offered the role of Lucrezia Borgia at Carnegie Hall in New York, which she had originally performed American singer Merlin Horn. It was something unreal. The audience gave Caballe a standing ovation for half an hour. And now she becomes famous throughout the world. She begins performing all over the world:

Montserrat Caballé & Nikolay Baskov

In the Great Hall of Columns of the Kremlin, in the White House in Washington, in the Hall of the People in Beijing and in many other famous places.

Caballe performs on the same stage with outstanding artists: Placido Domingo, Merlin Horn, Alfredo Kraus, Luciano Pavarotti.

Montserrat is very goal-oriented. She understands that you cannot show weakness, you cannot be unprofessional.

At the La Scala theater, Montserrat performed one of her wonderful roles in Bellini's opera Norma. The theater tours all over the world. They did not ignore the USSR either. Caballe performed the legendary role in Moscow.


The singer's repertoire includes more than 130 opera roles, more than 40 full-length operas. The song “Exercises in Free Love” was written in her honor, performed by rock musician Freddie Mercury. And in 1992 the Olympics took place in Barcelona. So, Caballe, together with Freddie, sang the song “Barcelona”, which later became a hit.

The singer was constantly among the performers on the pop charts. Caballe even performs with our Nikolai Baskov. They met in St. Petersburg. Caballe teaches Baskov to sing, and first of all, to breathe correctly, because in opera this is very important. She did not take money from Baskov for the lessons that took place at her own home.

Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury. Barcelona

She simply enjoyed the process itself. She passed on her skills. She prophesied a great future for Nikolai. And she even joked, saying: “My dogs didn’t like any of the singers who came to me, they had never sung along with anyone like that before.”

Personal life of Montserrat Caballe

The husband of the legendary singer is Bernaba Marti.

Imagine, the legendary singer in real life completely different. She is characterized by lateness and lack of composure. She was even late for her wedding. The singer has two beautiful children. Caballe is happy in family life and lyrically talks about her: “I’m happy that fate allowed me to make a career. But first of all, I am proud that I created a wonderful family, and I have two wonderful children. IN parental home, watching the relationship between mom and dad, I realized that equality in family relationships. It has been our custom since my childhood that no one dominates anyone.

And my husband and I are trying to raise our children in the same way. Each child and person has his own individuality, his own character, which must be respected. And I can proudly say that our family is harmonious. I have always tried to make sure that my children do not suffer because their mother is a celebrity. After all, in the end, music is just my job. And, besides music, I, of course, have other interests and responsibilities. And this is, first of all, my family. I hope that I am still more needed for my family and friends than for art. And when the moment comes that I won’t sing anymore, I don’t want to be pitied. I'll still be happy. Life itself is beautiful, the main thing is not to spoil it with your own mistakes.”

Caballe is an excellent driver, loves swimming, and enjoys painting. Since childhood there was a craving for delicious food. She loved the baked goods her mother made. Apparently, this is inherited; Montserrat often spoils her family with a variety of pies.

Somehow she had concerts planned. All tickets were already sold by the organizers in advance. Nothing foreshadowed trouble, when suddenly Caballe learned that her son was ill. Without hesitation, she flies to Spain to visit her son. For a long time, the theater sued Montserrat, but ultimately lost. The son recovered, of course. In Caballe's life, family comes first.

Awards

Of course Montserrat Caballe has public acceptance. She was awarded the Order of Isabella the Catholic, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the Order of Arts and Letters in France, and in Ukraine, Caballe was awarded the Order of Princess Olga, 1st degree. Montserrat Caballe holds the honorary title of Kammersänger from the Vienna State Opera.
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