Montserrat Caballé (Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepción Caballé i Folc,… Read Full Bio ↴Montserrat Caballé (Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepción Caballé i Folc, Barcelona, Spain, April 12, 1933 - October 6, 2018) was a Spanish soprano. One of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, she possesses a voice of remarkable beauty and of great range and flexibility, renowned for her flawless bel canto technique and unfailling musicianship. She is particularly admired for her famous interpretations of the works of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti.

Although best known for her bel canto roles, Caballé eventually sang over eighty operatic roles, from baroque opera to Verdi, Wagner, and Puccini, including the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier and the title role in Salome.

Caballé is also a noted recitalist, particularly of songs of her native Spain.

Her voice is noted for its purity, precise control, and power. She is admired less for her dramatic instincts and acting skills than for her superb technique, vocal shadings, and exquisite pianissimos.

The result of one of her brief excursions to the world of pop music, Caballé's duet with rock singer Freddie Mercury, Barcelona , was a hit single in 1987, accompanied by an album of the same name. The title track later became the anthem of the 1992 Summer Olympics which was hosted by the city, and appeared again in the pop music charts throughout Europe. Caballé also performed the song live, accompanied by a recording of the deceased Mercury, before the 1999 UEFA Champions League football final in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium.

Caballé has dedicated herself to various charities. She is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and she has established a foundation for needy children in Barcelona.

Caballé does not appear to have retired from the stage. She continues to assume new roles: in 2002, Catherine of Aragon in Saint-Saëns' Henri VIII; in 2004, the title role in Massenet's Cléopâtre, both at the Liceu. At the age of 73 (2006), she still maintains a busy schedule of recitals and concerts, mainly in Germany. And she is due to appear as The Duchess of Crackentorp in La fille du régiment at the Vienna State Opera in 2007.

Sailing
Montserrat Caballé Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am sailing, I am sailing,
home again 'cross the sea.
I am sailing, stormy waters,
to be near you, to be free.

I am flying, I am flying,
like a bird 'cross the sky.
I am flying, passing high clouds,

to be with you, to be free.

Can you hear me, can you hear me
thro' the dark night, far away,
I am dying, forever trying,
to be with you, who can say.

Can you hear me, can you hear me,
thro' the dark night far away.
I am dying, forever trying,
to be with you, who can say.

We are sailing, we are sailing,
home again 'cross the sea.
We are sailing stormy waters,
to be near you, to be free.

Oh Lord, to be near you, to be free.

Oh Lord, to be near you, to be free,
Oh Lord.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sailing" by Montserrat Caballé and Khadja Nin expresses the strong desire to be close to someone, to be with them and to be free. The song describes the journey through difficult stormy waters, indicating that the journey to be with the desired person might not be easy. The lyrics convey the idea of overcoming obstacles and challenges to reach the person you love. The repetition of the phrase "to be near you, to be free" emphasizes the importance of this desired union and the immense feeling of freedom that comes with love. The singer questions if their lover can hear them through the dark night far away, indicating the distance but still holding on to the hope of being with the person they love.

Overall, the lyrics of "Sailing" convey the message of a love that transcends distance and time. It is about the freedom that comes with finding one's true love, even when the journey to reach that person might not be easy.

Line by Line Meaning

I am sailing, I am sailing,
I am traveling on a ship across the sea

home again 'cross the sea.
Returning to my home across the sea

I am sailing, stormy waters,
I am sailing through rough waters on a stormy sea

to be near you, to be free.
I sail to be close to you and to experience freedom

I am flying, I am flying,
I am soaring through the air like a bird

like a bird 'cross the sky.
I am traveling across the sky like a bird

I am flying, passing high clouds,
I am flying high through the clouds

to be with you, to be free.
I fly to be with you and to experience freedom

Can you hear me, can you hear me
I wonder if you can hear me

thro' the dark night, far away,
During the dark of night, when you are far away

I am dying, forever trying,
I feel like I am slowly dying, always striving to be with you