for the barcelona olympics for which she will best be remembered. years before the games. and placido domingo service is expected to be held for her on monday. singer denise leigh. thanks very much for being with us on bbc news. on bbc news. what did she mean to you as a voice, as a presence? you as a voice, as a presence? and she had made such a massive splash. splash. as always, she was a timeless, ageless person. timeless, ageless person. to my husband, i've idea how old she is. is. i was amazed to find that she was 85. her voice was completely ageless. ageless. carnegie hall, because i don't think it was her natural territory. it was her natural territory. was singing a lot of mozart at that time. time. made her overnight a sensation in the opera world. it was her big break. break. repertoire which, who knows, maybe she would have gone into eventually? she would have gone into eventually? she was, who knows how long it would have taken her to reach. have taken her to reach. still less one getting it as quite short notice? short notice? learned the role in a month, i think it was, and that

died in 1991 so monserrat caballe sang barcelona at the opening ceremony withjose carreras and placido domingo monday. the arts broadcaster, sean rafferty, shared with me his memories of montserrat caballe. you can see why they call her la superba, she could fill this news and bounce off the walls and he would not need to turn the volume down. i met her years ago when radio three were doing a weekend from barcelona. she was extraordinary, she had the presence that great stars have. it's very hard to define when people get to a watershed and they come over the other side and emerged suddenly from the chrysalis. the doors were flung open, the red carpet went down, people bowed, she parted people like the red sea, she really was quite something. in the uk, we know herfor really was quite something. in the uk, we know her for barcelona and thejulie edge —— the duet she did with freddie mercury but tell us more about her wider career.m these overnight sensations people talk about, it is long, hard work, barcelona, singing and basil and in the ‘60s, she stood in for marilyn horne the ‘60s, she stood

died in 1991, so monserrat caballe sang barcelona at the opening ceremony with jose carreras and placido domingopected to be held for her on monday. joining me now on the line is the biographer david bret who knew and worked with montserrat caballe. thanks frame at for being with us. a sad day in many ways, but a day to celebrate a remarkable talent. what was special about her? it is very sad because she has died on the day that they have direct shall have saw who i also knew and they were linked. she was a very warm, wonderful person, very quiet. she did leave for word for my book, and if you compare her with maria kalas, maria kallis was extradited, montserrat caballe was much more client. you had to listen very intently to what she was saying and you would never say, pardon. intently to what she was saying and you would neversay, pardon. i really loved her and she was the first person that freddie told when he found out that he had aids, before his family, his friends, the group. that is how much she confided in her. he flung himself on her shoulder and cried. she was still singing just gave

died in 1991 so monserrat caballe sang barcelona at the opening ceremony with jose carreras and placido domingoe is expected to be held for her on monday. earlier, my colleague shaun spoke to the soprano singer denise leigh. she explained why montserrat caballe was so important to opera. i think ithinki i think i was 15 when i first heard her sing with freddie mercury because that was my first exposure to the and possibly my first exposure to operate. i was a budding musician, didn't know what i wanted to do, i was playing instruments, and it's true to say that she actually pushed me in the direction of opera because she was the epitome of opera because she was the epitome of the operatic voice. everyone's idea of the operatic solo ‘s and the operatic lifestyle, such a glamorous lifestyle and glamorous career.m is hard not to think of dawn french when she did her impersonation of an opera singer when she did her impersonation of an opera singer was when she did her impersonation of an opera singer was thinking of her but how was she regarded in the industry? was she ate team player or was she a

and will be remembered as once you have pulled a result of this recent study that there's no placido domingo the possibility of going to get to a bomb. for what we see in the future and this is must be remarked on the feed we. need there's room for all. people make their way through things in the gulf. war two this one. was shut up as well but it was to go with mr president i would do wonders for my beloved well but not yet on the record but i. think what i mean down often fed up with the key. is that it's what you have in this guy. who is very very out there who care about your vision but i didn't know we're going to do you think i know you never got to say coverage that they had me going to that final but on about a picture of a man on the books and again saying nope i don't want any of you are your thoughts on are going through your movie not going to do the little bit why did you think of what i did wrong that it was there is not going to some to be sure that what i do. ok don't look for a lot of clues said mr prophet about busy discipline when mostly will be emperors could fly more loca

died in 1991 so monserrat caballe sang barcelona at the opening ceremony with jose carreras and placido domingor on monday. with me is the arts broadcaster sean rafferty. first off, we were listening to that little clip of her will stop even a tiny bit, she powers right through. fantastic. she could feel this newsroom and bounce off the walls and you would still not need to turn the volume down. i met her three yea rs the volume down. i met her three years ago. what was she like? she was extraordinary. it is very hard to define when people get to a watershed and they emerge from the chrysalis into these great stars. she came to the hotel, the red carpet went down, people bowed. she parted people like the red sea. she really was quite something. in the uk, we all know her from barcelona, which she did with freddie mercury. but regarding her wider career, tell us but regarding her wider career, tell us about that. it is long, hard work. singing in the 60s. she stood in and people were knocked sideways by her. it is almost a gestation period, like a good wine coming to its optimum, the cork pops o

died in 1991, so monserrat caballe sang barcelona at the opening ceremony with jose carreras and placido domingo monday. those are the main stories this morning. it is so staring, hearing that music. the barcelona 0lympics, those three singers. it was a remarkable time, those memories stay with us for ever. we're talking a lot aboutjose mourinho today. there is a crucial game at home tonight to newcastle united, and then there is the international break. if you believe the mirror, the end is nigh. they say his reign is over after the clash today. this has led to aaron neville being very angry on sky sports saying it was disgraceful the way the board is behaving. the bbc has been doing its own investigating. we have heard the opposite, that he is staying. we talk about sacking all the time, and because jose we talk about sacking all the time, and becausejose mourinho is so high profile, there is a lot of interest in him, but it has revealed just how badly the board is behaving, in terms of pr, or treating this whole circus. yes, this shroud of mystery and it is not helpful to anybody, this specul