Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) was a legendary Italian tenor and one of the most famous opera singers of the second half of the 20th century. Thanks to his vocal mastery and personal charisma, Pavarotti became one of the true "superstars" of the 20th-century opera stage. His popularity was further boosted by frequent media appearances, television broadcasts of his performances, and joint concerts with pop and rock stars.
He was born into a poor family on the outskirts of Modena in northern Italy. He showed an interest in music from childhood but began serious vocal studies only in 1954 at the age of 19. His singing career began in 1961 when he won a vocal competition in the city of Reggio Emilia. That same year, he made his operatic debut in the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème at the city's municipal theatre.
Pavarotti's international debut took place in Belgrade, followed by a performance at the Vienna State Opera in 1963. By a fortunate turn of events, the young singer was noticed by the renowned American soprano Joan Sutherland, who was looking for a partner for her Australian tour. On her recommendation, Pavarotti performed in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Greater Miami Opera in 1965. This led to an invitation from Herbert von Karajan to La Scala to sing the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème. In 1966, he debuted at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in the role of Tonio in La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment). For his flawless execution of the role's nine high C's, critics dubbed him "the King of the High C's." He achieved the same resounding success in this role at the Metropolitan Opera in 1972, where he received a record 17 curtain calls. In 1988, at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Pavarotti set a Guinness World Record: after his performance of Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, the curtain was raised 165 times in response to the audience's applause.
In the 1990s, the singer focused on concert performances. His shows, both solo and as part of the The Three Tenors program alongside Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, attracted hundreds of thousands of listeners worldwide, and television broadcasts of these concerts reached a global audience of millions. Pavarotti's albums were certified gold and platinum, and the recording of the first The Three Tenors concert still holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling classical album of all time. In 1998, Pavarotti was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, which had been presented only 15 times since its establishment in 1990.
Among Pavarotti's finest roles were numerous parts in bel canto operas and works by Verdi, as well as roles in Puccini's operas—Rodolfo in La Bohème, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, and Calàf in Turandot. He performed Calàf's aria Nessun dorma to tremendous acclaim for a global television audience of millions at the opening ceremony of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He also sang this aria to conclude his operatic career in 2006 at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin.
Pavarotti was deeply committed to charitable work and frequently gave benefit concerts, using his fame and status to raise funds for the needy and refugees. In 1998, he was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and in 2001, he was awarded the Nansen Award for his efforts on behalf of refugees and the Red Cross Award.
Luciano Pavarotti passed away on September 6, 2007, from pancreatic cancer.
He was born into a poor family on the outskirts of Modena in northern Italy. He showed an interest in music from childhood but began serious vocal studies only in 1954 at the age of 19. His singing career began in 1961 when he won a vocal competition in the city of Reggio Emilia. That same year, he made his operatic debut in the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème at the city's municipal theatre.
Pavarotti's international debut took place in Belgrade, followed by a performance at the Vienna State Opera in 1963. By a fortunate turn of events, the young singer was noticed by the renowned American soprano Joan Sutherland, who was looking for a partner for her Australian tour. On her recommendation, Pavarotti performed in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Greater Miami Opera in 1965. This led to an invitation from Herbert von Karajan to La Scala to sing the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème. In 1966, he debuted at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in the role of Tonio in La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment). For his flawless execution of the role's nine high C's, critics dubbed him "the King of the High C's." He achieved the same resounding success in this role at the Metropolitan Opera in 1972, where he received a record 17 curtain calls. In 1988, at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Pavarotti set a Guinness World Record: after his performance of Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, the curtain was raised 165 times in response to the audience's applause.
In the 1990s, the singer focused on concert performances. His shows, both solo and as part of the The Three Tenors program alongside Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, attracted hundreds of thousands of listeners worldwide, and television broadcasts of these concerts reached a global audience of millions. Pavarotti's albums were certified gold and platinum, and the recording of the first The Three Tenors concert still holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling classical album of all time. In 1998, Pavarotti was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, which had been presented only 15 times since its establishment in 1990.
Among Pavarotti's finest roles were numerous parts in bel canto operas and works by Verdi, as well as roles in Puccini's operas—Rodolfo in La Bohème, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, and Calàf in Turandot. He performed Calàf's aria Nessun dorma to tremendous acclaim for a global television audience of millions at the opening ceremony of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He also sang this aria to conclude his operatic career in 2006 at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin.
Pavarotti was deeply committed to charitable work and frequently gave benefit concerts, using his fame and status to raise funds for the needy and refugees. In 1998, he was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and in 2001, he was awarded the Nansen Award for his efforts on behalf of refugees and the Red Cross Award.
Luciano Pavarotti passed away on September 6, 2007, from pancreatic cancer.
