Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballe dies at 85

(6 Oct 2018) SPANISH OPERA SINGER MONTSERRAT CABALLE DIES AT 85 Montserrat Caballe, a Spanish opera singer renowned for her bel canto technique and her interpretations of the roles of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti, has died. She was 85. Caballe died early Saturday at Hospital San Pau in Barcelona, hospital spokesman Abraham del Moral told The Associated Press. Caballe's family requested the cause of death not be released, saying that she had been in the hospital since September, del Moral said. Spanish media said that Caballe entered the hospital last month because of a gall bladder problem. “A great ambassador of our country has died,“ Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet. “Her voice and tenderness will remain with us forever.“ Born into a working class family in Barcelona, Caballe unveiled her musical talents early on, singing Bach cantatas at the age of 7. In her almost unlimited repertoire, she starred in 90 opera roles with nearly