BARCELONA: Spain’s world-famous opera singer Montserrat Caballe was laid to rest on Monday at a funeral in Barcelona where tenor Jose Carreras hailed her as “the greatest soprano of the 20th century.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Catalonia’s separatist president Quim Torra also said their goodbyes to Caballe, who died on Saturday aged 85.
Hailed as one of the greatest singers for her vocal virtuosity and dramatic powers, Caballe charmed audiences for half a century with a huge repertoire that saw her perform across the globe.
Nicknamed “la superba” in her native Spain, she was propelled into the mainstream when her duet with Freddie Mercury, a boundary-busting combination of opera and rock, became the anthem for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
“For me, Montserrat was the greatest soprano in the 20th century,” Carreras told reporters.
“The only person who could get close was Maria Callas.”
Greek composer Vangelis, with whom Caballe collaborated, sent a wreath with the message: “For the one and only Montserrat Caballe.”
Born in April 1933 to a humble Barcelona family, Caballe was buried next to her parents in the city’s Sant Andreu cemetery in a northern working-class district.
Opera star Montserrat Caballe laid to rest in Barcelona
Opera star Montserrat Caballe laid to rest in Barcelona
- Hailed as one of the greatest singers for her vocal virtuosity and dramatic powers, Caballe charmed audiences for half a century with a huge repertoire
- She was propelled into the mainstream when her duet with Freddie Mercury, a boundary-busting combination of opera and rock, became the anthem for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona
The difference between European and Gulf weddings — from a photographer’s point of view
DUBAI: From her early career in northeast France to working across the Gulf and Europe, wedding photographer Maddy Christina has observed many contrasts between such events in different parts of the world.
Her early years as a photographer were defined by variety; she worked across fashion, family portraits and weddings simultaneously before recognizing how wedding photography brings multiple genres together in a single day.
“I actually fell into weddings by accident,” Christina told Arab News. “It blends every discipline at once — fashion for the couple session, sports for the reception, documentary work throughout the day, still life with details and jewelry.”
Christina’s connection to the Middle East began through Parisian clients who invited her to Dubai for a post-wedding session: “I instantly connected with the energy of the city,” she said.
A few years later, a wedding in Kuwait marked the start of her long-term relationship with the region.
Now working extensively across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Christina said weddings in the region required a shift in both perspective and technique.
“Working across the GCC has opened my mind in ways I didn’t expect,” she said, adding it felt like “resetting everything I thought I knew about weddings” — particularly compared to her experience in Europe.
She said there were clear distinctions between the two regions. “European weddings tend to be more demonstrative and expressive, while brides in the Gulf often place a deeper emphasis on tradition, family bonds and a sense of ceremony,” she said. “The emotional language is different, yet equally beautiful.”
From a technical standpoint, the contrast is just as pronounced: “In the south of France, I was used to shooting outdoors at sunset with couples already comfortable in front of the camera. Here, I often find myself in much smaller spaces, with no windows, artificial light and couples who may be more reserved.”
She added that adapting to these conditions pushed her to explore new ways of shaping light and expanded her creative approach.
While Christina is drawn to candid moments, like “guests laughing together, old friends reconnecting, a fleeting emotion passing across someone’s face,” posed pictures remain central to her work.
For Christina, the most meaningful aspect extends beyond the wedding day itself.
“It’s not the decor that makes a wedding unforgettable for me,” she said. “It’s the connection I build with the bride. That long-term bond is what feels truly magical.”
