In MemoriamLuciano Pavarotti 1935 - 2007
Luciano Pavarotti (born October 12, 1935) is an Italian tenor who is one of the best known vocal performers in contemporary times, in the world of opera and across multiple musical genres. He was born in Modena (Emilia-Romagna), in northern Italy.
1960 - 1970Pavarotti made his opera debut on April 29, 1961 in the role of Rodolfo in La bohème, in Reggio Emilia.
He made his American debut in February 1965 with the Greater Miami Opera alongside Joan Sutherland on the stage of the Miami-Dade County Auditorium in Miami. The tenor scheduled to perform that night was ill and had no understudy. Sutherland recommended the young Pavarotti, who was travelling with her on her tour, since he was well acquainted with the role. Shortly after that, on April 28, he made a debut at La Scala in La Bohème. After an extended Australian tour he returned to La Scala where he added Tebaldo from I Capuleti e i Montecchi to his repertoire on March 26, 1966, with Giacomo Aragall as Romeo. His first Tonio took place at Covent Garden on June 2 of that year.
1980 - 1990
At the beginning of the 1980s he set up The Pavarotti International Voice Competition for young singers, performing with the winners in 1982 in excerpts of La bohème and L'elisir d'amore. The second competition in 1986 staged excerpts of La bohème and Un ballo in maschera. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his career he brought the winners of the competition to Italy for gala performances of La bohème in Modena and Genoa and then to China where they staged performances of La bohème in Beijing. To conclude the visit, Pavarotti performed the first ever concert in the Great Hall of the People before 10,000 people, receiving a standing ovation for nine effortless high Cs. The third competition in 1989 again staged performances of L'elisir d'amore and Un ballo In maschera. The winners of the fifth competition accompanied Pavarotti in performances in Philadelphia in 1997.
2000
In 2002 Pavarotti split with his manager of 36 years Herbert Breslin. The breakup, which was acrimonious, was followed in 2004 with the publication of a book by Breslin entitled The King & I, seen by many as sensationalist and largely critical of the singer's acting (in opera), his ability to read music and learn parts, and of his personal conduct, although acknowledging their mutual success. In an interview in 2005 with Jeremy Paxman on the BBC, Pavarotti rejected the allegation that he could not read music, although acknowledging he sometimes had difficulty following orchestral parts.
In 2002 Pavarotti split with his manager of 36 years Herbert Breslin. The breakup, which was acrimonious, was followed in 2004 with the publication of a book by Breslin entitled The King & I, seen by many as sensationalist and largely critical of the singer's acting (in opera), his ability to read music and learn parts, and of his personal conduct, although acknowledging their mutual success. In an interview in 2005 with Jeremy Paxman on the BBC, Pavarotti rejected the allegation that he could not read music, although acknowledging he sometimes had difficulty following orchestral parts.
Trivia/pop culture references
* Pavarotti is a fan of Turin-based football club Juventus. As part of the South Bank Show documentary on Pavarotti, he can be seen watching the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final between AC Milan and Juventus with friends. He talks about his love of Juventus, and is visibly upset when Milan wins on penalties.
* Pavarotti is a fan of Turin-based football club Juventus. As part of the South Bank Show documentary on Pavarotti, he can be seen watching the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final between AC Milan and Juventus with friends. He talks about his love of Juventus, and is visibly upset when Milan wins on penalties.
* In the television programme Mad About You, Pavarotti sang to the Buchman family in their own living room.
* In the claymation television series Rex the Runt, one of the characters, Vince, suffered from "Random Pavarotti Syndrome" which would cause him to suddenly burst out in operatic singing at inopportune times.
