Legacy Matters

Luciano Pavarotti R.I.P.

Luciano Pavarotti died, a great voice will sing no more

Associated Press.
Luciano Pavarotti, opera's biggest superstar of the late 20th century, died Thursday. He was 71. He was the son of a singing baker and became the king of the high C's. Pavarotti, who had been diagnosed last year with pancreatic cancer and underwent treatment last month, died at his home in his native Modena ...His wife, Nicoletta, four daughters and sister were among family and friends at his side.
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For serious fans, the unforced beauty and thrilling urgency of Pavarotti's voice made him the ideal interpreter of the Italian lyric repertory, especially in the 1960s and '70s when he first achieved stardom. For millions more, his thrilling performances of standards like "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot" came to represent what opera is all about.

"Nessun Dorma" turned out to be Pavarotti's last aria, sung at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin in February 2006.

Thanks to YouTube, you can hear him sing Nessun Dorma

Richard Dyer in the Boston Globe

There were many great tenors active in the second half of the 20th century, but for millions of people Luciano Pavarotti was the main man, the only one. His singing gave more pleasure to more people for a longer period of time than any other classical singer in history
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A New York Times critic once wrote that Mr. Pavarotti's vocal cords were "kissed by God." When television interviewer Pia Lindstrom repeated this remark to him, Mr. Pavarotti replied, "God kissed you all over." The tenor's gregarious personality was as endearing as his voice, and he was a good colleague onstage, always willing to help a younger singer.

New York Post

Like most Italian boys, he had dreams of being a soccer player. When that failed, Pavarotti's parents urged him to find a job. For a short time, he worked as an insurance salesman and teacher.

After taking on singing as a hobby, Pavarotti caught his big break thanks to another Italian opera great, Giuseppe di Stefano, who dropped out of a London performance of "La Boheme" in 1963.
Pavarotti served as a stand-in - and a star, the likes not seen since Enrico Caruso, was born.
Pavarotti was known as the "King of the High C's" for the ease in which he tossed off difficult notes. In fact, it was his ability to hit nine glorious high C's in quick succession that first turned him into an international superstar singing the aria "Ah! Mes amis," in Donizetti's "La Fille du Regiment" at the Metropolitan Opera in 1972.

Rick Moran at American Thinker

His voice - a creamy and powerful instrument that soared majestically when the Maestro used it to interpret opera's most beautiful and difficult arias - has now been stilled forever:

Some critics savaged him for "going commercial." Pavarotti's response to that was simple; if "commercial" means many millions more people see and enjoy opera, give me "commercial everyday.
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Notoriously tempermental, Pavarotti will be remembered for his generosity of spirit rather than his tantrums. His numerous performances for worthy causes through the years (at times appearing with rock and pop stars) are a testament to his dedication to both his art and humanity. There wasn't a nation on earth where he was not instantly recognizable. A truly remarkable fact considering the limited fan base for opera.

Thankfully, his voice will live forever thanks to his recordings. For that, future generations will be grateful when listening to perhaps the most unique song artist the 20th century produced.

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