Luciano Pavarotti

Opera / Performers / Operatic Tenor

Italian Opera Singer, a Tenor Divo of the Late 20^th Century  

Luciano Pavarotti, the world's most celebrated tenor of all time passes away today. This is a tribute to his life, his voice and his performances that endeared him to millions worldwide.

Acclaimed opera singer, great artist, extraordinary voice

By Tel Asiado, Sept 7, 2007

Legendary Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, takes a final bow yesterday in his home in Modena, Italy. At 71, he died of pancreatic cancer.

The son of a baker, Pavarotti was born Oct. 12, 1935, in Modena. Pavarotti showed more interest in soccer, but fond of listening to his father's recordings of tenor greats like Beniamino Gigli and Giuseppe Di Stefano, his favorite. In his teens, Pavarotti joined his amateur singer tenor father in the church choir and local opera chorus. He was also influenced by the American actor-singer Mario Lanza.

Luciano Pavarotti sings "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors Original Concert.)

Pavarotti trained to become a teacher but at 20, he traveled with his Modena chorus group to an international music competition in Wales. They won first place. Pavarotti began to dedicate himself to singing and studied with Arrigo Pola and Ettore Campogalliani. After his studies, he made his debut at the Teatro Municipale in Reggio Emilia as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème. 

Pavarotti followed with a series of successes in small opera houses throughout Europe. He sang in Amsterdam and repeated his success in the role of Rodolfo at Covent Garden as a last-minute substitute for Giuseppe Di Stefano. He sang Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo at Glyndebourne.  Impressing conductor Richard Bonynge, Pavarotti got the role opposite Dame Joan Sutherland (Bonynge's wife), in a Miami production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lamermoor. He was signed a 14-week tour of Australia in 1965 with Sutherland's company, singing opposite her in Lucia di Lammermoor, which they later recorded together.

Pavarotti made a series of major debuts, appearing at La Scala in Milan as Duke of Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto, and in 1968 he made his US debut in San Francisco and New York's Metropolitan Opera House. Other early venues included Vienna, Paris and Chicago. Pavarotti also started on heavier dramatic tenor roles, such as Manrico in Verdi's Trovatore, the title role in Otello, and as Nemorino in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore.

In the mid-1970s, Pavarotti became a media star appearing in television commercials, mega-concerts outdoors and in stadiums worldwide.

Pavarotti made numerous recordings. "Volare" went platinum in 1988 and "Nessun Dorma" also topped pop charts worldwide in 1990.  

He starred in a film Yes, Giorgio and appeared in a filmed version of Rigoletto. He wrote autobiographies I, Luciano Pavarotti and Pavarotti My World.

In 1990, he appeared with Domingo and Carreras in a televised concert in Rome for the end of soccer's World Cup. The concert was a huge success, and the record known as "The Three Tenors" was a best-seller and was nominated for two Grammy awards. The three-tenor extravaganza became a mini-industry.   

Pavarotti was also involved in humanitarian work, financing and establishing the Pavarotti Music Center for Bosnia's developing artists, and performing concerts for victims of tragedies.

This week, the Italian government honoured him with for "excellence in Italian culture" award. La Scala and Modena's theatre also announced a joint Luciano Pavarotti award.

Pavarotti had three daughters with his first wife, Adua; and one with his second wife, Nicoletta.

As a leading tenor divo of the late 20^th century, with his vibrant rich voice and splendid high notes producing great fluency, while clutching that white handkerchief, Pavarotti covered the entire 19^th-century Italian repertoire, from the bel canto of Rossini and Donizetti to the dramatic operas of Verdi and Puccini. Luciano Pavarotti was eulogized on Saturday as a “great artist” with “a profound sense of humanity” in the same cathedral where he once sang in the children's choir. During a musical career that spanned nearly 50 years, he bridged highbrow and pop culture. For us his millions of admirers, Pavarotti's superb performances will forever be remembered. Luciano Pavarotti carried opera to new audiences as never before.   

Video Credit:

Luciano Pavarotti - "O Sole Mio". Uploaded, Paolo Driussi. Accessed September 7, 2011

Luciano Pavarotti sings "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot. Uploaded, Luciano Pavarotti. Accessed October 12, 2019.

Resources:  

1. News from Associated Press, dated 6 Sept 2007. Accessed Sept 6, 2007. 

2. Luciano Pavarotti is Dead at 71.  The New York Times. Accessed Sept. 6, 2007.
3. Oxford Who's Who in the 20^th Century (1999)      

4. The  Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2^nd Ed, edited by Stanley Sadie (2000)

Note: I originally wrote this piece (Sept 7, 2007) for Suite101.com as tribute on the passing away (September 6, 2007) of Luciano Pavarotti, a favourite opera tenor. / Tel

  

(c) September 2011. Tel Asiado. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.