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This is a collection of Spanish and American songs by Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury and opera singer Montserrat Caballe.
With Barcelona, Queen singer Freddie Mercury realized his long-lived dream of performing with an opera singer; in this case, Montserrat Caballe. While it's certainly a treat for any fan of Mercury's to hear this album, it's a difficult record to recommend. Most fans of opera will probably find it far too simplistic and pop-based, while many rock fans are sure to find the record too classical. The first half of the album, however, is deserving of a spin for any open-minded listener. Consisting of semi-operatic melodies with grand production, songs like "Barcelona" and the Eastern-sounding "La Japonaise" are startling in their beauty; the two singers from opposite ends of the music spectrum working surprisingly well off each other. The most classically operatic pieces of the project, "Ensueno" and "The Fallen Priest," are alternately gorgeous and powerfully dramatic. Unfortunately, the second half of the album is less successful as it reverses the formula of the first half. While Mercury can do well in semi-operatic settings, Caballe sounds awkward on the more pop-oriented tracks "Guide Me Home" and "How Can I Go On." "The Golden Boy," largely a gospel track with a full choir, is well-written and performed by Mercury, but Caballe's voice is simply not suited for the genre and the operatic opening sounds jarring against the gospel midsection. Nonetheless, despite its weaknesses, the record contains some beautiful and passionate music that is unlike anything most fans of rock and pop are likely to have heard before. For that alone it should be commended. ~ Geoff Orens
Recorded at The Townhouse Studios, London, England and Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland.
Personnel: Freddie Mercury, Montserrat Caballe (vocals); Homi Kanga, Laurie Lewis (violin); Deborah Ann Johnson (cello); Barry Castle (horn); Mike Moran (keyboards); John Deacon (bass); Frank Ricoffi (percussion); Madeline Bell, Debbie Bishop, Lance Ellington, Miriam Stockely, Peter Straker, Mark Williamson, Carol Woods (background vocals).
Personnel: Montserrat Caballé (vocals); Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano, background vocals); Homi Kanga, Laurie Lewis (violin); Deborah Ann Johnston (cello); Barry Castle (horns); Mike Moran (keyboards); John Deacon (bass guitar); Frank Ricotti (percussion); Peter Straker, Debbie Bishop, Lance Ellington, Madeline Bell, Mark Williamson, Miriam Stockley, Carol Woods (background vocals).
Recording information: Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland; Townhouse Studios, London, England.
Photographers: Terry O'Neill ; Peter Hince.
Arrangers: Mike Moran ; Freddie Mercury.Entertainment Weekly (8/7/92, p.60) - "..Mercury's reverence for [Caballe] and his flair for kitsch make this a novelty item too cracked to resist.." - Rating: B
Stereo Review (12/92, p.100) - "..a unique souvenir of Mercury, and its posthumous release is a touching way of saying `Vaya con Dios' to a uniquely gifted rock showman.."
Freddie Mercury - Barcelona Songs
Barcelona Music Review
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    Recording defines Freddie' broad range and talent
I come back to this CD, time and again to listen to striking passages of music that cannot be experienced with any other artist. Freddie and Montserrat come from opposite ends but they harmonize wonderfully. A must hear for a Queen devotee.
Submitted by silverp1800s (California, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 2 of 3 found this helpful.
 A very good album
It is a very good album but I have a hard time deciding if I should rate it 4 or 5 stars.
The song "Ensueno" on this album is also heard on the "Freddy Mercury Album" but under the name of "Exercises in free love" where he sings on his own, in falsetto. A very good version of the song. Though when I checked the list of songs on the "Freddie Mercury Album" on this site I could not see that song on the list. Do not know why.
You can also hear the soloversions of the other songs from the Barcelona-album on Freddie Mercurys "Solo Collection 1973-2000".
Submitted by patwo130 (Sweden)
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Wonderful Classical-Pop!
Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe duet!
Its very distict to the sound Freddie used in all his work...ones that stand out are.."Barcelona"..-"Guide Me Home" - my fav "How Can I Go On" such a classical pop tune...try the clips!
Submitted by LONDON! (UNITED KINGDOM.)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 2 of 4 found this helpful. Awesome
This is actually the last recording Freddie Mercury recorded and he went out with a gem. I have been a Queen fan most of my life, but had never heard this album before. I recently purchased it and on the first listen I was just stunned. The blend of Mercury's and Caballe's voices will give you chills. I just recently read a biography about Mercury and he put his all into this music, and was thrilled to be recording with Montserrat Caballe. This album shows us what a loss it was when Freddie died. He was a pure genius.
Submitted by akanawha (Charleston WV USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 2 of 5 found this helpful. | Have you heard this album? |  |
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