The story of the meeting between Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé is truly fascinating. Freddie Mercury, a great opera fan, discovered Montserrat Caballé in London in the early 1980s during a performance at the Royal Opera House. Freddie was there to hear Luciano Pavarotti, but he was thunderstruck by the Spanish singer's voice.

In 1986, during a television interview, Freddie declared his admiration for Montserrat and his desire to meet her. A year later, on March 24, 1987, the two stars met at the Ritz Hotel in Barcelona. Freddie arrived at the appointment with a cassette tape on which he had recorded a vocal improvisation entitled “Exercises in Free Love.” Montserrat listened and was thrilled, saying, “You are a mezzo soprano! This piece is magnificent, you are an artist who creates from the heart. “

From that moment, the two began to collaborate and spent a lot of time together singing and composing. Their collaboration culminated in the production of the album “Barcelona,” released on October 10, 1988. The album was recorded in various studios between 1987 and 1988, despite the busy schedules of both of them and the personal difficulties of Freddie, who discovered at that time that he was HIV-positive.

The album “Barcelona” is a unique mix of opera and rock, and the single of the same name became the official anthem of the 19922 Barcelona Olympics. The collaboration between Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé is remembered as one of the most extraordinary in music history.

Freddie wrote this for her.  Barcelona was her hometown.

One of the greatest Duets ever put together.

FREDDY'S DREAM.... SINGING  WITH MONTSERRAT...❤❤❤

Just one correction, Montserrat was not "an opera singer", she was "THE Opera Singer", widely considered one of the very best sopranos of the 20th century.  At an early performance at the Carnegie Hall she once got a 25-minute standing ovation.  She and Freddie shared a great mutual admiration, maybe love, she was heartbroken when he died.

Freddie was so close to Montserrat and trusted her so much that she was one of the very few people that he told of his illness
before he would perform this song with her...he had loved her voice ever since first hearing her perform in London.

The way Montserrat Caballé carries the entire weight of the song without taking the spotlight away from Freddie is impeccably professional.

Freddie genuinely adored Montserrat!! ❤

The greatest voice in rock meets the greatest voice in opera - brings tears to my eyes... 🥲

Two immortal legends!

When the band Queen was due to go to Barcelona for a concert, a spanish journalist asked what the band knew of the city. Freddy Mercury answered 'the Catalan Nightingale' which was the nickname of Montserrat Caballe, this is how their collaboration started. Afterwards, the song was chosen as the anthem for the Barcelona olympic games.

I can only be grateful to Freddie for singing and making this song about my city.

Definitely the best song created for an olympic game. No other song has had the impact of this musical wonder. It was a real pity that Freddie could not sing it at the opening of the games due to his death 7 months earlier. I understand that Montserrat did not want to do duets with anyone in the rock world after this song. Enormous was the respect they both had for each other. Great reaction, greetings from Argentina

Freddie Mercury was so much more than a rock singer, he was a brilliant musician, an excellent singer, songwriter, storyteller, and he had  the range to sing operatic songs. Montserrat Caballé was one of the most famous opera divas of the last century, she was famous for her very high soft notes. Freddie and Montserrat became good friends very quickly, they adored each other and Montserrat was brave enough to take the risk of singing with a rock star, because she recognized The Musician in Freddie instantly. There are 2 more songs at La Nit 88. The Golden Boy (that is even more dramatic) and How Can I Go On, worth to check them out.

I think, if Freddie hadn't joined Queen, he would've been a huge success in musical theatre.  His stage presence and voice are perfect for it.

These two were such great friends that when Freddie passed it absolutely crushed Montserrat emotionally. She adored him as he did her

Now you can understand why freddie was the best artist....not only front man!!
Thanks for this tribute to him

This is why Freddie is the greatest singer of my lifetime.
Montserrat looks beautiful and also amazing.

I read that, notwithstanding that Freddie was a Super Star in his own right. He was actually nervous of performing with Montserrat on the same stage, because he was so Star Struck & in awe of her. Of course, history has recorded that he absolutely smashed it. But this just shows the humble side to the man. A performing genius who's like we will never see again...

That moment in the beginning when everybody stands up when Freddie and Montserrat come on stage gives me goosebumps upon goosebumps everytime!!! Comparing this to the music nowadays tells me how poor we are now...