Pavarotti Dead at 71
Luciano Pavarotti is dead at 71, of pancreatic cancer.
Pavarotti has always had one of the most recognizable voices in opera, and along with Placido Domingo is (virtually) everyone’s favorite tenor.
I will be seeing Verdi’s Requiem this Sunday, the day that Pavarotti is laid to rest. Domingo will conduct. On the way home, I heard that Domingo will dedicate the Requiem to Pavarotti (as well as someone else whose name I didn’t catch). It will be a nice way to say goodbye.
This will sound like heresy at this website but I like football a lot more than I like music, and the music I do like is pedestrian by almost anyone’s standards. However, there is one exception: I fell in love with opera in Italy 30 years ago and I still love it – especially the 3 tenors, and especially Pavarotti.
DRJ (2afbca) — 9/6/2007 @ 5:25 pmI’m quite sure most of the commenters here prefer football to classical music.
But the fact that Pavarotti appealed to people like you, who tend not to like much classical music generally, is a key to his importance. You’re not alone in this respect.
Patterico (2a8eaa) — 9/6/2007 @ 5:41 pmI will be at LA Opera Verdi Requiem performance als0 – I got goosebumps when I read that Pavarotti will be laid to rest the same day.
Lee Merrick (dac48e) — 9/6/2007 @ 6:47 pmI am honored to have joined millions in being enthralled by Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma of Turandot, but I listened at the Met in 1988-89 or so. Later, I watched with Beverly Sills as he sang Pagliacci’s Vesti La Giubba. And one of the most moving pieces of all for me was his collaboration with Sting on Panis Angelicus.
Prima donna, divo, womanizer or not, his voice was a gift to humankind and I will always feel blessed to have heard him twice, both exceptionally moving experiences.
Ciao, Pavarotti.
Enjoy your weekend, Patterico.
Deborah (5ac5e3) — 9/6/2007 @ 7:17 pmIn his prime he was great, but he did jump the shark and become in some ways a parody of himself. By the time of the Three Tenors, he was already fading. But still he had one of the greatest voices ever. Many of the singers now active are greater musicians than he was, but I can’t think of one from the younger generation who can equal the fulness and tone of that voice.
kishnevi (7a9e8b) — 9/6/2007 @ 8:27 pmDitto to comments 1 and 2.
Christoph (92b8f7) — 9/6/2007 @ 8:35 pmIn the world of Italian tenors, there was Caruso, there was Lanza, and there was Pavarotti.
Another Drew (33c3dc) — 9/6/2007 @ 8:38 pmVery few of us today could have the privilage of hearing Caruso live, and his recordings are primitive. Lanza’s recordings are better, but still not of the best quality (and the more you listen to them, the more they deteriorate unfortunately). But, with Pavarotti, mankind forever will be blessed with his magnificent talent through the magic of digital recording.
The man will be missed, but his music will be with us for all time.
Ciao, Maestro!
The world has lost a great voice. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform a few years ago in the “3 tenors” tour. My kids grew up listening to the Magic Flute so there is another opera fan here. I have one kid that sings opera and plays two varsity sports. I love seeing the sports and hearing the vocal performance.
atmama (fa996c) — 9/6/2007 @ 9:06 pmA great voice is silenced – I, like many others was always amazed when I heard the Three Tenors perform. Pavarotti will be missed by those that followed opera and the average person.
fmfnavydoc (affdec) — 9/7/2007 @ 4:02 amDid he evern do BARER OF SEVILLE?
krazy kagu (b1eb84) — 9/8/2007 @ 11:41 amThis is a very informative and useful article for me because one of my friends sister is suffering from pancreatic cancer.This post is very useful for me because my friends mother is suffering from the same. This would help me to tell some important caution about cancer.
Judy (f74889) — 9/4/2008 @ 4:26 am