📸 October 8th, 1988 - Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé performed three songs (playback) by the Magic Fountain on Montjuic at a music festival "La Nit", which celebrated the arrival of the Olympic flag from the Seoul games to Barcelona
🇪🇸 “He presumido siempre de ser Española allá por donde he ido y he interpretado zarzuelas siempre que he podido. Cantar en castellano cuando estoy lejos de casa es algo que me llena de una gran emoción”.
Hi, just want to share a thought I just had. Freddie's performance with Montserrat is beautiful but at the same time so so so sad. (maybe because it was his last performance?) I want to cry every time I watch it. I feel sad because the world lost a brilliant artist, he still had a lot to show...
Yes! I think it’s such a beautiful moment of two beautiful musicians coming together in such a lovely way. I love their mutual respect and the way they simply seemed to adore one another.
And Freddie’s dreams came true when Montserrat agreed to sing his music. What an amazing feeling that must have been for him.
Also, may I recommend a lovely (but sad) Montsy and Freddie fic?
Those Beautiful Dreams That We Shared by @plainxte
Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé, with whom Freddie Mercury recorded an album, Barcelona, expressed her opinion: his technique was astonishing. No problem of tempo, he sang with an incisive sense of rhythm, his vocal placement was very good and he was able to glide effortlessly from a register to another. He also had a great musicality. His phrasing was subtle, delicate and sweet or energetic and slamming. He was able to find the right colouring or expressive nuance for each word
1988 - Freddie Mercury with Montserrat Caballé at La Nit Festival, Barcelona
On 12 April 1933 Montserrat Caballé was born, one of the most famous sopranos of all time. Her operatic repertoire counts more than 80 roles, from Baroque opera to Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Bellini and Strauss. In 1988 she recorded with Freddie Mercury the album Barcelona
Released in 1987, this masterpiece featuring both Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the group Queen, and Montserrat Caballé, a famous soprano opera singer, was originally made for the opening of the 1992 Summer Olympics. Caballé was so enthusiasted she decided to make a whole album with Mercury. Himself a big fan of Caballé, accepted with joy; giving birth to the album "Barcelona", in 1988.
[Verse 1: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé]
[Both]
I had this perfect dream
Un sueño me envolvió
This dream was me and you
Tal vez estás aquí
I want all the world to see
Un instinto me guiaba
A miracle sensation
My guide and inspiration
Now my dream is slowly coming true
[Verse 2: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé]
[Both]
The wind is a gentle breeze
Ooh, él me habló de ti, aah
The bells are ringing out
El canto vuela
They're calling us together
Guiding us forever
Wish my dream would never go away
[Chorus: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé]
[Both]
(Barcelona) It was the first time that we met
(Barcelona) How can I forget (Ho-oooh-oooh)
The moment that you stepped into the room
You took my breath away (Ho-oooh-oooh)
(Barcelona) La musica vibró
(Barcelona, ooh) Y ella nos unió
And if God willing
We will meet again someday
[Verse 3: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé]
Let the songs begin
Déjalo nacer
Let the music play, aaah-aaah-aaah!
Make the voices sing
Nace un gran amor
Start the celebration
Ven a mi, and cry, Grita
Come alive, vive
And shake the foundations from the skies (Aaaah-aaaah-aaaah!)
Ah, ah, shaking all our lives (Aaaah!)
Aaaaah!
[Chorus: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé]
[Both]
(Barcelona) Such a beautiful horizon
(Barcelona) Like a jewel in the sun
Por ti seré gaviota de tu bella mar, aaaah-aaah-aaah-aaah
(Barcelona) Suenan las campanas
(Barcelona, ooh) Abre tus puertas al mundo
(Aaaah)
If God is willing, if God is willing
If God is willing
(Aaaaaaaah)
Friends until the end
Viva, (Aaaaaaaah)
Ooh-ooh-ooh, aaah-aaah-aaah-aaaaaaah!
Barcelona
Good morning, everyone! Last time on the Queen vs Queen showdowns, "Hammer to Fall" and "Who Wants to Live Forever" went head to head. As for this time:
Previously, "Sail Away Sweet Sister" (https://youtu.be/kGXsIt4l1Tg) solidly defeated "Ensueño" with a 66.7%-33.3% victory.
"Barcelona" (https://youtu.be/Y1fiOJDXA-E), meanwhile, beat "Spread Your Wings" by 64%-46%.
*As mentioned before: the Barcelona album is technically not a Queen album, but consists of duets between Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé. "Barcelona" showed up on my Queen "Greatest Hits" album, though, so it counts enough for me.