Spanish soprano Caballe sings again

Monserrat Caballe debuted in Barcelona 40 years ago

One of the most famous living operatic sopranos, Spain's Montserrat Caballe, has returned to the opera stage for the first time in 10 years.

Ms Caballe, aged 67, made her comeback in the same theatre in her native Barcelona, where she made her debut almost exactly 40 years ago.

Illness prevented Caballe from performing

Ill-health forced her retirement from live stage performances for almost a decade, but she achieved widespread fame outside operatic circles when she recorded the album Barcelona with the late pop star Freddy Mercury.

The album provided the theme tune of the 1992 Olympics, which were held in the city.

Ms Caballe sang the role of Catherine of Aragon in Camille Saint-Saens' Henry VIII in Barcelona's Liceu Theatre, alongside American baritone Simon Estes.

The performance came just days before the 40th anniversary of the Catalonian singer's debut at the Liceu on 7 January 1962, when she sang in Richard Strauss' Arabella.

On Monday the theatre will hold a celebration marking the anniversary, in which the singer will be presented with a book of photographs highlighting her performances at the Liceu.