On Instagram, Queen legend Freddie Mercury’s fan page has shared a really rare photo of him in which he was posing with his little-known musical partner, Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caballe.
In the caption area, the page celebrated the birthday of Spanish musician Caballe, who passed away on October 6, 2018. Here’s what the page wrote about Caballe and Mercury:
“Happy birthday to Montserrat Caballé. She would’ve been 87 years old today 🖤”
They added:
“Without warning, he sat down at the piano at the former Hotel Ritz in Barcelona and began to improvise Exercises in Free Love, singing in falsetto what would be her part if she accepted. It was the beginning of 1987 and the first time Queen frontman Freddie Mercury met Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé.
This meeting would lead to a legendary musical partnership that would bring the best of the classical and contemporary music world together in the iconic anthem Barcelona, written ahead of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.”
Also, the page wrote:
“Caballé liked that Freddie, contrary to appearances, sold his voice instead of his image. When he sat down at the piano to improvise, I realized that a true musician was before me,” she said. He made such a good impression that she agreed to meet him again at his house in London to record a demo.”
See the Instagram post and photos below.
In 1987, Freddie and Montserrat have collaborated for a special music that was written for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. You can watch their duet below.
