Viva la Diva is a collection of
Montserrat Caballé's collaborations with a variety of popular artists, made between 1988 and 2000, and encompassing everything from synth-pop and anthem rock to sentimental favorites like "The Last Rose of Summer." The tracks range from the fairly successful, such as "Mediteráneo" with
Joan Manuel Serrat, to the bewildering, like "Love Is the Key" with the German a cappella group
Die Prinzen; as a collection, they struggle to make a case for
Caballé as a comfortable crossover artist.
Caballé sounds shoe-horned into many of these recordings, bringing a Bellini-esque vocal style to music that bears the more distinctive imprint of her collaborators. Nevertheless, there are fun moments to be had, especially in "Barcelona" and "How Can I Go On," both of which feature the inimitable
Freddie Mercury. The gaudy energy of his singing is irresistible, and the friendship he and Caballé enjoyed brings audible joy to their collaboration. The Spanish selections bring the best out of
Caballé, who deals lovingly with her native language; they are a welcome relief from the many tracks in English, which does not come as easily.
Caballé's self-professed favorite song, "G'Schätzli" shows that she can definitely let her hair down if given the right material.