Opera star Montserrat Caballe given suspended jail for tax evasion

Spain’s world-famous opera star Montserrat Caballe was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence and fined more than 250,000 euros ($275,000) on Tuesday for cheating the taxman.

The 82-year-old soprano, who made a global splash when she sang “Barcelona” with Queen singer Freddie Mercury at the 1992 Olympic Games, had already struck a deal with prosecutors over the case, which was ratified by a judge in Barcelona Tuesday.

Caballe was allowed to appear at the hearing via video-link from her home for health reasons after suffering a stroke in 2012.

She was also sentenced to pay more than 72,000 euros to tax authorities, according to the sentence published by the regional high court of justice.

The diva, known as one of the world’s greatest voices, was placed under investigation last year, accused of channelling earnings through a company in Andorra when she lived in Barcelona, and thus defrauding the taxman to the tune of 500,000 euros, which she has since paid back.

Born to a humble family in Barcelona, Caballe toured the world in a career spanning 50 years — renowned for a creamy voice, extraordinary technique and dramatic power.

She became an international opera star in 1965 when she stepped in for another singer in the notoriously difficult role of Lucrezia Borgia in Donizetti’s opera in New York.

Her debut went down in opera history as one of the greatest overnight successes ever.