Caballé, Montserrat (1933—)

Spanish soprano. Name variations: Caballe. Born on April 12, 1933, in Barcelona, Spain; studied at the Barcelona Conservatorio del Liceo and with Eugenia Kemeny, Conchita Badia , and Napoleone Annovazzi.

Awarded Liceo gold medal (1954); appeared in Barcelona, Basel and Vienna (late 1950s); debuted at the Teatro alla Scala (1960), and Mexico City, Chicago, and Metropolitan Opera (1965); debuted at Covent Garden (1970).

One of the 20th century's greatest prima donnas, Montserrat Caballé possessed an ethereal voice and sensitive musicality that combined to make her an exquisite vocalist. Hers was a luscious, finely trained soprano with very pure high notes and strong chest notes. She learned breath control from Eugenia Kemeny , who trained her pupils as if they were long distance runners. A combination of rich color and absolute steadiness gave her voice a peculiar charm. Though she won the Liceo gold medal for singing, Caballé was unable to launch her career in Italy so she went to Basel. In one seven-year period in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she sang 47 different operatic roles, an astonishing number, although Carmen came to dominate her repertoire. Her vast undertakings ranged from Mozart to Wagner and Strauss. Eventually, Cabellé's astounding voice won her attention, and she debuted at the Teatro alla Scala in 1960 and finally at the Met in 1965. She recorded extensively, which secured her place in the world of opera. Her career was marred during the last decade because of numerous cancellations due to bad health.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia