One of the greatest opera singers of recent decades is dead: The soprano Montserrat Caballé has died, as confirmed the hospital Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona. Caballé was 85 years old.

The soprano had health problems for years. In 2000, for example, Caballé had been operated on for a gastric puncture - one of many surgeries in her life. After a fall six years ago, she could hardly walk and was usually dependent on a wheelchair. At last she only appeared sitting up. Two weeks ago, Caballé was hospitalized for a bladder complaint.

The death watch takes place on Saturday, Caballés funeral is scheduled for Monday, said the authorities in Barcelona. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez tweeted: "A great ambassador of our country has died, but Montserrat Caballé, her voice and her gentleness will always stay with us."

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Montserrat Caballé: A unique career

Caballé was considered the last great opera diva. She was born on April 12, 1933 in Barcelona. Her career began in Basel in 1956, and she completed more than 4,000 appearances.

Caballé began her vocal studies at the age of eight at the Liceu Conservatory in Barcelona. In 1954 she graduated and began studying in Milan. In 1956 she was engaged for the opera in Basel and had her first major role in the state theater as Mimi in Puccini's "La Boheme".

Caballé was engaged from 1959 to 1962 in Bremen. After recording several records their fan base grew fast in Spain, but also in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 1964 she married the Spanish tenor Bernabe Marti. The couple received two children, Bernabe Marti junior and Montserrat Marti, who became a successful soprano.

Breakthrough at Carnegie Hall

Caballé had a celebrated performance in Mexico City that year, but only a year later she made the breakthrough to star; This was also due to a happy coincidence. Because the US soprano Marilyn Horne was prevented, Caballé appeared in the title role of Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia" of New York's Carnegie Hall and thrilled the audience. After that, all opera stages were open to Caballé.

Another highlight followed 27 years later. With the song "Barcelona", written for the 1992 Summer Olympics in the Catalan capital, she became known to a wider audience. She had taken the play in 1987 with the later died as a result of his AIDS disease rock star Freddie Mercury.

Caballé was known for her social engagement. She supported many charitable organizations, often through performances. And she was an ambassador for UNESCO. In 2015 Caballé was sentenced to a suspended sentence for tax evasion. She had not paid more than half a million euros in income tax.