On September 6, 2007, the most angelic voice humanity has ever known fell silent forever. Luciano Pavarotti, struck by an incurable illness, left the earthly world behind, leaving a vast legacy: cultural monuments clothed in his interpretations, thus establishing a unique and universal reference point for what the human voice is capable of.
Pavarotti was born on October 12, 1935, in a suburb of Modena. His father was Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and amateur tenor, while his mother, Adele Venturi, worked in a tobacco factory. His poor family was forced to abandon their home in 1943, in the midst of World War II, living in miserable conditions in the countryside.
Pavarotti’s first professional dream was to become a goalkeeper; however, his father’s musical interest led him toward vocal study. His idols were the tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano as well as Mario Lanza, about whom Pavarotti used to say: “As a teenager I would go and watch Mario Lanza’s films, and then I would come home and try to imitate him in front of the mirror.” That is how his “career” began: at the age of 9 he started singing with his father in a small church in the area.
After completing his studies at the Scuola Magistrale, he worked for two years as a teacher, but in 1954, at the age of 19, he began to devote himself seriously to music. Arrigo Pola, a renowned teacher and professional tenor in Modena, agreed to teach him free of charge. In 1955, he joined the Rossini male choir, together with his father.
During his musical training, Pavarotti did various jobs to make a living, including teaching at an elementary school and working as an insurance agent.
The 1960s and 1970s
Pavarotti’s first operatic role was Rodolfo in La Bohème at the Teatro Municipale in Reggio Emilia, in April 1961. His first international appearance was in La Traviata in Belgrade, while at the age of 23 he performed the same role at the Vienna State Opera. A landmark date was his debut at La Scala in Milan, where he sang the same role in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of La Bohème, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, alongside his childhood friend Mirella Freni.
In 1969, his interpretations were recorded for the first time, with his debut in discography being I Lombardi, as presented in Rome on November 20, 1969. A series of Verdi arias followed, as well as the complete L’elisir d’amore.
The 1980s and 1990s
Pavarotti was already known all over the world, having performed in every corner of the Earth and in every major theatre, but the advent of television turned him into a true star for billions of people around the globe. In 1990, his performance of Nessun Dorma, from Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, was the BBC’s “theme” for the FIFA World Cup hosted in Italy. This particular aria reached the level of pop-song success and became established as one of his signature pieces.
Around the same time began his collaboration with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, who, under the banner of “The Three Tenors”, gave their first concert at the Baths of Caracalla on the eve of the World Cup’s opening.
From this collaboration—which continued for several years with performances all over the world—a standout moment was their rendition of the Neapolitan popular song “’O Sole Mio”, leaving behind one of the most characteristic moments in the history of operatic music.
In that period, audience sizes also began to reach staggering proportions. The appearance of “The Three Tenors” at Hyde Park in London gathered a crowd of 150,000 listeners; at the Eiffel Tower, 300,000; and at New York’s Central Park, half a million!!!
In the late 1990s, within the framework of his charitable action titled “Pavarotti and Friends”, he collaborated with many artists from the Pop and Rock scene, performing in operatic as well as other styles. Among these artists were B.B. King, Andrea Bocelli, U2, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jon Bon Jovi, George Michael, Bryan Adams, Zucchero, Mariah Carey, the Spice Girls, Ricky Martin, and many others.
The 2000s
In 2004, Pavarotti, at the age of 69, already facing problems with his vocal cords, began his last world tour under the title “Farewell Tour”, aiming to cover as many destinations as possible, where he would make his final appearance. However, this tour encountered several difficulties, the most significant being the forced surgery on his throat, which the famous tenor underwent in New York, in March 2005.
His final appearance ultimately took place at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, on February 10, 2006. Already worn down, Pavarotti was not able to perform as in previous years, and as was later revealed, this appearance was recorded. According to conductor Leone Magiera: “the orchestra pretended to play, I (i.e., the conductor) pretended to conduct, and Pavarotti pretended to sing.” Nevertheless, this last appearance received the reception befitting a great master, with the audience applauding without end this final performance, in which Pavarotti presented his trademark: Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot.
Pavarotti breathed his last on September 6, 2007, at his home in Modena, having battled pancreatic cancer for more than a year. His funeral took place at Modena Cathedral, attended by figures such as Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Kofi Annan, while Italian Air Force aircraft formed the Italian tricolour flag in the sky. Countless opera houses around the world honoured the day with tributes to the great tenor.
…and another side of Pavarotti…
Pavarotti, apart from being an unsurpassed (in the literal sense of the word) tenor, was also a man of exceptional temperament—like every Italian who respects his origins, after all! A small taste of this side of him appears in the enjoyable video below!
