Freddie Mercury ft. Montserrat Caballe - Barcelona | Reaction 

Freddie wrote this for Montserrat and the Barcelona Olympics. Montserrat was world's greatest soprano. He saw her at the opera and was determined to meet her so a friend introduced them. Apparently they went back to his home in London with friends and jammed all night. Oh to have been a fly on the wall that night 🤩 Her voice gives me chills EVERY time. Our Freddie knew exactly what he was doing when it came to making fantastic music. 💙

"One day, if god is willing we will meet again..." they did in the sky rest in peace Freddie and Montserrat ❤❤❤❤❤

I heard this at least 100 times and I am always struck by the power behind her voice. Freddy is recognized as one of the most powerful singers in rock history, and yet, when she comes in after his first line, you almost feel like she is toying with the song, like child's play. The power of operatic vocalists is an earth shattering thing, singing to huge halls with no mikes, ridiculously impressive...

I am from Barcelona and I live here; I was there on 1992. Pity we did not have cellphones to record this ACT OF HEAVEN. THE VERY best stage show on Earth, in History. I live very close to Plaza de España (Spain Square, it's called) where this show took place. Unbelievable these 2 angels that now are singing in heaven among Gods.

Freddie was a big fan of Monteserrat Caballe after seeing her at the London Royal Opera House in Verdi's Un ball in Mashera. Freddie wrote the Bohemian Rhapsody as an Ode to Opera Freddie wrote Barcelona and the entire album called 'Barcelona' during the time Freddie found out he had 'Aids'. Monsy which Freddie called her in affection, is the only singer that ever made him cry. They had a great friendship. When Freddie arranged to ask Monteserrat to sing a song with him, he assumed it would be one song but she asked him "how many songs do you put on a rock album? and he replied "8 to 10". She said "Fine, we will do an album." She was big rock & roll fan. During the recording according to Peter Freestone, the last song "How Can I Go On', Freddie decided to speak the words after Monteserrat sung them and while she was in the control room she said "Why do i have to be there screaming? Him talking is so much more meaningful!", Freddie and told her about his diagnosis and told her that he may not be in there to perform with her in Barcelona. So said the fact that Freddie was there makes it even move special. RIP Freddie and also Monteserrat Caballe died in 2018 at the age of 85, RIP.

He composed it with Mike Moran, the guy at the piano.-- When you see Montsy grab Freddie's hand and he kissed it, she had seen that he had teared up. He already had told her, that he would not be around in '92 to present it at the Olympic Games.-- "Innuendo" is compared to Bohemian Rhapsody.

"Shake the foundations from the sky".....you did Freddie, you did....like a jewel in the sun❤❤❤❤

This was for the Barcelona olympics and one of my favourite songs ever.

These two are so outstanding together. Freddie loved the opera and for him to be able to do this was both frightening and a dream come true for him.

Always expect the unexpected from Freddie, he wrote this for her and her hometown of Barcelona.

He wrote this entire album just for her and him. He always wanted to meet her and collaborate. He met her and she was into it. He wrote every song. Check out the album

Bohemian rapsody was written years before this one. Freddie always loved opera and ballet. Caballé was one of the most famous and important sopranos of the world. She died just a four years ago.

this album and the realization that Freddie Mercury could keep up vocally and above all that he even compose (not just this rock and roll crap) made my "rock and roll is not music" father a great admirer of Freddie Mercury.

THE SINGLE best stage performance in history in my view. Not only does he run all the way from Baratone to clear Tenor, he puts so much power into the opening corus that he nearly knocks himself off his feet. Look at time 4:15 He has to take a step back and ends up sideways with crossed over legs... That is vocal power

Barcelona was the 92 Olympic games. Freddie wrote this one. Bo-Rap was different. Freddie loved Opera maybe that's where you're getting this

Makes me cry every time. Such a loss of an absolute genius.

I really love this song and how their voice are completing the whole performance. It's one more proof that rock and classic music are meant to be combined.

This is a solo hit by Freddie in collaboration with the opera diva Montserrat Caballe' - Freddie loved her voice and that of Aretha Franklin, talked about wanting to sing with them....Montserrat's folk responded and it happened. Each highly valued the artistry of the other and couldn't believe the other would chance working together...but they did! And it was a music making love story involving deep, deep respect. I believe others have posted about Freddie's candid sharing with her. Their Barcelona album is FANTASTIC . Some of the lyrics tell me it was wonderful Freddie had the candid moments with her at that time of his life. "Golden Boy" and "How Can I Go On" powerful and beautiful..."The Fallen Priest" and "Guide Me Home" also. John Deacon, Queen's bassist plays bass on "How Can I Go On" Roger Taylor's son Rufus plays drums on a later produced special edition of the music (orchestra music). Both Freddie and Montserrat wanted to give us their genre voice....not lose their vocal style in this collaboration. And they did good.Thanks for this. In fact, thrilled to find your reaction tonight.

Freddy commented on Montserrat's skill while recording this. He said something along the lines I had to physically go nearer and farther to the microphone to control my volume. She does all that with her voice alone.

I know of no relationship between Barcelona and Bohemian Rhapsody other than Freddie Mercury and his love of music. Yes, Montserrat's voice and Freddie's compliment each other so beautifully.

always always gives me goosebumps no matter how many times i have watched this

This is always the next song/video I tell people to watch after they start to appreciate Queen. It just shows how much of an amazing singer he was and how he could sing about any type of song. People never expect this song after hearing the other queen songs. Thanks for putting some attention to this one.

Freddie Mercury does it all ! Rock & Opera. Doesn't get any better then this! Ready Freddie is the real deal.

Freddie had a life long dream to meet and sing with Montserrat as he was greatly inspired by her and opera as a genre. This was a song dedicated to her, her hometown and the Olympics. I also believe it was the first, or one of the first songs to blend such different genre into one song in this manner.

A great album You have to hear it in it's entirety Freddie admired her since the first time he heard her singing.. That track dressed the 92' Olympics in Barcelona.. What an honour for both of them Thank you

I love how Freddie turns to Montsy at the end with a little smile, as if to say “we weren’t too bad, eh?”

Was written for the Barcelona Olympics... was made the official song. Monserrat was a professional opera singer.

"Come Onnnnnn" is Right !!!🥰 Freddie loved Opera & Ballet and Art

Thank you for reacting to this! I am not a fan of opera, but I love these two together. I think this was the stage debut (?) of the song. Short sum of how the duo came to be - "In 1986, he mentioned on Spanish television that he would like to meet her, and they met for the first time in Barcelona in February 1987. Later, when the city had been chosen for the 1992 Summer Olympics, Caballé, a native of the city, was asked to help produce a song for the games. She asked Mercury to collaborate." Freddie and Mike Moran (seen at the piano in this) co-wrote the album Barcelona with help on a few songs from lyricist Tim Rice. There are some great youtube videos of Freddie and Montserrat together or her talking about him years after he passed. It was the first duet of rock/opera.

How Can I Go On by the same two is awesome.

his passion is reflected in this song, we miss you Freddie

This song was first performed in 1987, years before the Olympics were in the city. It was written as a tribute to Montserrat Caballé and her hometown. 4:28 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé - Barcelona (Original David Mallet Video 1987 Remastered) RU-vid · Freddie Mercury Solo 23 Nov 2012

HOW CAN I GO ON....this one is my favorite that Freddie and Montsy did

This event was organized in autumn 1988 to celebrate arriving olympic flag from Seoul.

This was written by Freddie for the Barcelona Olympics

This performance was recorded at LA Nit on October 8, 1988. This was Freddy's last public performance. The occasion was the celebration of the arrival of the Olympic flag (from the 1988 Olympics in Seoul).

Thank you for reacting to this beautiful duet and it is as powerful as it is beautiful! Another great one is "How Can I Go On" with Freddie and Montserrat! I really enjoy watching your reactions, thank you!😊

Olimpic Games and I Will remember allways, allways this song ❤❤❤❤

He was already very sick during this performance. Even sick he is still the best singer ever.

this performance still gives me goosebumps! epic is the only word I can describe it with.

These both were absolutely great. Goosebumps. Jeez. "Friends until the end. VIVA!" May they both rest in peace 🥹

It's a kind of magic ❤❤❤❤❤

So complement each other, Love this song .🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

I loved this song when it first came out, played for the 92 olympics. i had it on cassette in my car... later that same year when i got the phone call to rush to the hospital for the birth of my eldest son. this was playing in my car.... This song holds so many memories for me for so many various reasons.

Every time I hear this, I get chills❣️

This stirring and incredibly dramatic performance of musical theatre was performed at the "La Nit" Centro de Cultura in Barcelona, as part of the lavish celebrations to formally welcome the official Olympic flag to the city, after being awarded the right toi host the 1992 Summer Olympics. The bid had included as a centerpiece, this triumphant anthem, originally composed by Freddie and Mike Moran as a tribute and homage, to legendary operatic "Diva"(in the purest sense of the word) Montserrat Caballe(pronounced CABALL-YAY), whom many still consider as one of the greatest Operatic Soprano's of all time. Freddie first heard her sing in 1983 at Covent Garden Opera House in London, where he had gone to see Luciano Pavarotti perform. Montserrat Caballe sang the lead female role and so the story goes from her first aria, Freddie was smitten. His management subsequently arranged for them to meet in Barcelona and when they did therre was an instant connection, based on a shared devotion to music. Despite many criticising them for their collaboration and forecasting dire consequences, Freddie and Montserrat were adamant and determined. The duet had it's first live performance at the prestigious "Ku Club" on the island of Ibiza in 1987 and was immeditaely greeted with rapturous acclaim, forever silencing their critics. It was hoped at one stage that Freddie and Montserrat would sing the duet at thhe Opening ceremony of the games iin 1992, but the fates decreed otherwise and Freddie tragically died 7 months before the event. Montserrat only sang this amazing duet once after his demise and then to his recorded voice. She never performed it again, preferring to keep it as a sacred and treasured tribute to her cherished friend and collaborator. She sadly died in 2018 and the world suddenly became a little greyer and colder..!

This duett is so epic. I was a little kid, when I hear this. RIP both❣️

This is María Cristina Avenue in Barcelona in front of the Catalonia National Museum of Art... This place is transformed into open air stage yearly for the whole city around 24th of September. I live in Barcelona. The fountain you are seeing is the magical fountain of Montjuic and every week there is a show of music, light and water that people gather to see. They always start with this song... I am too young to have seen Freddie Live, but this fountain show taps into his greatness. It gives me chills every time. P.S. Montserrat Caballe is pronounced as CABA-YEH

We lost a musical genius when Freddie left us. To this day, this song sends shivers up and down my spine.

This was the first cross genre duo with an opera singer. Montsy took a lot of shit for "lowering" herself from the opera community. She never regretted it and multiple performers (including those that dissed her) have made that cross since.

Shes the biggest opera singer of her time and freddy has the xtra vocal chord that only opera singers have. He dreamed of singing with her!!

I had the pleasure of preforming this in front of her back in the day …I was Freddie and a famous drag queen played her , at the time I had no idea who she was and just how important she was in Spain also had the pleasure of being Sara Montiel backing dancer ( another famous Spanish star )

The song was about them, she was the worlds best ariast & he was Freddie Mercury! Rock & classical collided & it is magical. Freddie wrote all the songs on the Barcelona opera...you should invest in this album as it will help you through the storms of life.

This was the presentation for the olympics in Barcelona in 1992. It was going to be the oficial opening song but Freddy died in 1991 and she didn't want to Sing It with anybody else

This was live art on it's purest form!

Lifelong Queen fan here. Barcelona was truly a masterpiece. Saw Queen as a support act to Mott the Hoople in Bristol November 1973. In their set they played Seven Seas of Rhys 3 months before it became their first hit. It blew the house down. Check it out.

This song always brings me to tears. So beautiful.

Barcelona my favorite city! Those are the Magic Fountains at Montjuic. Beautiful. Montserrat was one of the best opera singers ever.

This song Barcelona my city proud of 1992 olimpic games the best ópera singer, the best introduction to the rest of the World and algo of course the gentes Freddy.

This song opened the Barcelona olympics.

Not only did Freddie do several opera songs but he also went into ballet a bit. He performed with the Royal Ballet once. There are a couple of his performances with Queen that his costumes remind me of ballet.

I was here to see Freddy but That note she hit before it even started was flawless.

The Olympics is usually known 4 years in advance which location. So, this performance was relating to Barcelona being chosen as the location for the 1992 Olympics (hence the big spectacle. It was performed in 1987 and 88. It wasn't written specifically for the games but was used as the official 'theme' and by the BBC during their coverage of the games in 1992. As I'm sure you may know, Freddie didn't make it to the games as he died in November 1991

I wish i had found you guys sooner! I love that you introduce a new generation to the EXPERIENCE of Freddie!!!

Oh you gotta do THE GOLDEN BOY from the same album!! 🌟⭐️💫✨ Two musical geniuses livin’ the dream!! Thank you so much! I think the stage lighting looks like a giant eye ..

AMO ESTE VIDEO ES UNA JOYA FREDDIE EN L A OPERA LOGRO SU SUEÑO Y MONSERRAT SE LO HIZO REALIDAD QPD☺️

great song, great video. you can see, Freddie is a bit out of his comfort zone how he has to tone down his usual stage manners 😍

Think he did this for the Spain Barcelona Olympics opening night for the Olympic games.

Freaking "A"! So damn good! Thank you for the amazing review! Yassss!!

Freddie was such an amazing talent. So many sweet memories through music he left us.

Freddie loved Opera, hence Bohemian Rhapsody, and went see Cabelle' when she was in London. She actually visited him at his home and they became good friends. He basically wrote this for her and their friendship. Then it was incorporated into the '92 Olympic Games. He said it was one of his greatest accomplishments. I got my 8 year old niece hooked on Queen. Then I played their CD. She didn't care for it but I think some day she'll appreciate it.

I like to think since they have both passed they are in heaven teaching the angels HOW to really sing

This song is absolute perfection.

This tune is in my Top 200 Greatest Tunes. I've heard it many, many times and it never fails to generate goosebumps. Freddie was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania under the name Farrukh Balsara.

Doing a quick web search for "Barcelona 92" brings up the summer Olympics that year. So all the fireworks etc was probably to show the start of the Olympics (I would assume).

That was the first Olympics that I truly remember, thanks largely to this song. It still raises shivers all over my body.

Live at La Nit was a celebration of the arrival of the Olympic torch for the future 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Mike Moran and Freddie wrote this, and later Tim Rice, who was the lyricist for Evita and Superstar, etc. wrote the lyrics for Golden Boy and The Fallen Priest, both are on the Barcelona album. Mike Moran worked with Freddie on his solo work. They met when Freddie sang Time and In My Defence for the Dave Clark production of Time

The most amazing live performance anyone will ever ever see...simply breathtaking !!

I think it was filmed in plaza espana, in Barcelona.. I used to live very close to that place. I moved to Barcelona for a bit, because of how much this song inspired me

Absolutely amazing record. It must have been fantastic to have been there

The best of the best! High high high quality! 🎉🎉🎉

Freddie and Mike Moran wrote this; Freddie was a huge fan of Montserrat and they had decided to collaborate. They recorded an album together. This performance was given when Barcelona won the bid to host the Olympics. They wanted to perform it at the Opening Ceremonies but Freddie knew he wouldn`t survive til then. Montserrat was one of the very few people who knew he was dying.

A very epic song I have loved for years. Haven't seen this video version before, so thanks.

Just beautiful ❤

It was supposed to be for the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Barcelona. But he died before that.

After Barcelona was selected to host the 1992 Summer Olympics, Mercury was approached to write a song as a theme for the forthcoming games. The idea was to create a duet with Caballé, as she was from the city. Michael Moran he was co-producer, arranger, keyboards performer and co-author of all the tracks on the album Barcelona, the classical crossover collaboration between Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and opera singer Montserrat Caballé,

One point I’d like to make that you might not have noticed, everyone but the opera singer is using a microphone. That is a major difference between opera singers and every other type of singers.

It’s the opening of the Barcelona Olympics

This concert was for receiving the torch for the Barcelona Olympics in 1988for the 1992 Olympics

Was the theme tune for the Olympics in Barcelona

1992 were summer olympics in Barcelona. That's why the event looks that big. Probably the only sports event bigger than super bowl.

Freddy always and forever.

Freddie is from Barcelona he did this for his home town and for the Barcelona olympics

It was commissioned for the Barcelona Olympics held in 1988. Its amazing that you didn't make that connection. (although it was probably before you were born) Yes, there are similarities to Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) and some phrases in the introduction of Barcelona were archetypal Freddie Mercury and made it obvious that he composed it (in collaboration with Mike Moran) You commented on the beauty of Montserrat's voice, so can I suggest that now you have actually heard a trained, professional, operatic voice, you try listening to an opera or two. I'd recommend Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and also his The Magic Flute

That was awesome!

Loved your reaction . Thank you. This was used for the Olympics in Barcelona

No matter how manny years passed untill i heard this song for the first time ( and they are a lot😊) this song still gives me goospumbs❤, we all heard and knew this song by heart in Europe , i was sooo young when i heard it on the olimpic games ,it was like a religion for us back in the days to wach our country in Olimpic Games ,so this will stay in my heart for us long us a live❤ Hello from România❤❤

Still moves me after all these years !

Fantastick energy!

Dos grandes , Freddy mi idolo de siempre , este tema es fabuloso