Spanish opera club keeps Caballe out

The world-famous soprano Montserrat Caballe is reported to have failed in her bid to join the all-male opera club of Barcelona.

The Spanish news agency quoted an opera club representative as saying that three membership applications from men had been accepted, while another ten -- from women -- had all been rejected.

The club was founded in 1847 and this is the first time that women have attempted to join. Montserrat Caballe has been described as Spain's greatest living soprano, and in addition to world-wide fame is a local hero in Barcelona, her birthplace.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service