THE GREAT TENOR Victoria-M. -A MODEST TRIBUTE-

Luciano Pavarotti was born in Modena, Italy, on October 12, He was a celebrated Italian tenor in operatic music, who successfully crossed into popular music becoming one of the most beloved vocal performers. Known for his televised concerts, media appearances, and as one of “The Three Tenors”, Pavarotti also was noted for his charity work benefiting refugees, the Red Cross and other causes.

Pavarotti began as a tenor in 1961 in Italy, and then he sang in various European houses including in Vienna and London.

His U.S. debut was in 1965 (with soprano Joa Sutherland, who invited the young tenor in Miami to tour), that gave him both valuable experience and significant recognition. They were solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which he first appeared at Milan's La Scala and other major European houses.

He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Rodolfo in “La Boheme” on November 23, 1968, to great acclaim.

It's right to indicate that Pavarotti was a perfectionist and a man whom felt his fame intensely. In this sense he never allowed that a disc without his approval was published.

To his many beliefs that the luck had to help him, was the one that he had to should find a nail doubled to take it in his pocket; and he never left his long and white handkerchief, because it gave him security.

But the most important thing of the great artist is his condition of singer. In that sense, his voice and the beauty of his tone, are the reason by which conquered his fame to the point to be installed in the small circle of the most remarkable tenors of the lyric art. About that voice, his warm timbre and his formidable capacity of air, the praises are practically unanimous anywhere in the world.

By late 1970s, Pavarotti became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His “high C” became one of his trademarks. The 1970s and 1980s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses, and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.

A peculiar fact, that it did not occur in other figures of his category, is that his song was magnified, was made still more surely, when it reached the maximum volume and the wealth of harmonics that arose from their sound was of immaculate beauty. In his art there was a perfect union of natural dowries with the emission technique, perhaps one of the more exquisites that have been listened to in the tenor cord.

Pavarotti had outstanding performances in all the great theaters of the world, among them, the “Colon” of Buenos Aires. He made his debut there in 1987, with Puccini’s opera “La Boheme”. Buenos Aires and the “Teatro Colon”, caused so good impression to him that in his biography “My world, my life” he dedicated seven pages to them full of praises.

In 1990, in Rome, Pavarotti had formed together the tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, a successful equipment denominated “The Three Tenors”, who some exceptional times presented great concerts which were relayed to all the world.

Pavarotti annually hosted the “Pavarotti and Friends” charity concerts in his home town of Modena in Italy, to raise money for several U.N. causes. From principles of the 1990s, the tenor joined his voice with singers from all parts of the music industry, among them, Sting, Elton John, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Paco de Lucía, Liza Minnelli, Bryan Adams, Caetano Veloso, The Spice Girls, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Zucchero, Celine Dion, Eurytmics, Enrique Iglesias and Laura Passini.

Illuminated by his radiant personality and propelled by his zest for life Luciano Pavarotti's golden voice transcends the walls of the opera house. For many lovers of the lyric, “Nessun Dorma” the aria of “Turandot”, of Giácomo Puccini, that Pavarotti made listen to many million people, “became the essence of the lyric”.

“Nessun Dorma” was part of Pavarotti's final performance, at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Turin in February It was his good bye. In July he had to initiate a world-wide tour, when the doctors discovered a tumor in his pancreas.

Luciano Pavarotti died at the early morning on September 6, 2007, at his home in the northern Italian city of Modena, after a long battle with cancer.

The funeral was held at Modena Cathedral, declared patrimony of the humanity. The funeral of Luciano Pavarotti reflected his life, his music, and his celebrity status, but this was far more than just a farewell to a great singer.

Luciano Pavarotti's rests were buried in the small cemetery of Montale Rangone, in Modena, his native city.

Considered as “the great tenor of the modern times”, his death is a big loss for the lyric art, and produced a deep pain in all the world....although with the slight consolation to think that the Pavarotti's voice will be eternal.

ADDIO MAESTRO

© September/2007 Music: “Nessun Dorma” by Luciano Pavarotti NEW ENGLISH VERSION-2008