Montserrat Caballe, Spanish Opera Singer Famed for ‘Barcelona’ Duet, Dies at 85

Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe performs during a concert at Burgos' Cathedral, northern Spain, on Feb. 16, 2007. Reuters/Felix Ordonez/File Photo

BARCELONA—Montserrat Caballe, who put opera onto the pop charts by singing the song “Barcelona” with Freddie Mercury three decades ago, died Oct. 6 at the age of 85.

The Spanish soprano, who was born in the Catalan capital, had been in poor health for a number of years and was hospitalized in mid-September, a hospital official said. She died at Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona.