The late Freddy Mercury was best known as a singer in the rock band Queen, but many people do not know that he once sang a duet with a famous opera personality, and they went on to record an album together.
It all started in 1988 when Mercury first heard works by soprano Montserrat Caballé. He was so impressed, he put together an opportunity for the two to collaborate. The result was “Barcelona,” a duet that went on to become the official theme of the 1992 Olympics, which were held in Barcelona, Spain.
The pair recorded an album together that was also released in 1988. One duet from that work, “How Can I Go On,” was once performed live by Mercury and Caballé. A video of the event is still popular on YouTube.
Caballé said that if Mercury had not died, the pair would have written and performed more music together. She said the last time she spoke to Mercury was when he was on his deathbed, and she played “Phantom of the Opera” through the phone. He told her he liked it very much, and it was exactly what he needed to hear in that moment.
Mercury died from complications of AIDS on November 24, 1991.