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Pop quiz: What's the most important thing about opera singer Luciano Pavarotti? (A) He used his vocal gifts to bring joy to millions; or (B) He was white, and not black or Latino. If you're a normal person, you'd choose option A. But if you're the New York Times chief classical music critic, Tony Tommasini (or some other equally lousy person), you choose B. Tommasini last week published what might be the single worst arts piece ever published by the formerly revered, now auto-cannibalizing Gray Lady. And since I have no word limit on this column, I might as well...

Old Retired Army Guy,Conservative4Ever, Okay. So,I'm just and old softie, So, here it is, a day early. What's the big deal? ENjoy it! Luciano Pavarotti:By Special Request:Nessun Dorma

Figaro, the central character in 'The Barber of Seville" By Rossini Luciano Pavarotti Sings Figaro by Rossni

Yesterday YouTube opened to the public their newest Beta, the YouTube "Feather" service. Feather is a slightly stripped down version of YouTube for those who have low bandwidth and/ or connection issues. Feather stills gives you the YouTube "experience", that is, you can still watch and listen to all of the same videos. The difference is that HQ/HD won't be available, and comments and other "fluff stuff" are limited or removed. The loading and playing of the videos is faster and smoother, I can attest to that.

Thousands pay respects to Pavarotti MODENA, Italy (AFP) — Thousands of mourners, many in tears, filed past the open coffin Friday of legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti in his hometown Modena, as Italy proudly saluted the passing of its adored opera superstar. The heavy doors of Modena's ancient cathedral opened at dawn to allow the crowds who had queued outside to enter and view the coffin, in which the singer's body lay in a black dinner jacket, his hands crossed at his chest over an ivory rosary. Hailed by many as the greatest tenor of his generation, Pavarotti, 71, died early...

Wife's tears for Pavarotti September 08, 2007 MOURNERS in their hundreds yesterday gathered in the town square of Modena to pay their respects to the town's favourite son, the tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who died on Thursday, aged 71. The crowd applauded as pallbearers carried the singer's white coffin into the cathedral, where a funeral today will draw dignitaries from opera, politics and culture. On the Piazza Grande, hundreds gathered for the first evening of public viewing. Police on horseback stood at attention as mourners shuffled up the steps into the cathedral to view Pavarotti, dressed in his trademark white tie...

Manager reports his death.

ROME (Reuters) - Luciano Pavarotti's health has deteriorated sharply and the 71-year-old tenor is at home, unconscious and suffering from kidney failure, a television station reported on Wednesday. Family and friends went to Pavarotti's home to be near the singer, considered one of the greatest tenors of his generation, E' TV Antenna Uno television station in Modena, the tenor's home town, reported. In July 2006 Pavarotti underwent surgery in New York for pancreatic cancer and retreated to his villa in Modena. He had to cancel his first planned public reappearance a few months later. Taken to hospital with a fever...

ROME — Opera star Luciano Pavarotti has been hospitalized for tests in his hometown of Modena, in northern Italy, hospital officials and his manager said today. Pavarotti, who underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer last year, was brought to Modena's Polyclinic two days ago, said manager Terri Robson. Earlier, a hospital spokesman had said Pavarotti was admitted Wednesday. Robson and officials at the hospital declined to give the reason the 71-year-old tenor was hospitalized, but local daily Il Resto del Carlino reported that it was pneumonia. Robson said she would issue a statement later. Il Resto del Carlino reported that Pavarotti...

Excerpt - Luciano Pavarotti is recovering in New York after surgery for pancreatic cancer, Terri Robson, his London-based manager, announced today. The legendary 70-year-old tenor had been preparing to leave New York last week to perform in the U.K. when a routine medical test indicated he had a malignant pancreatic mass, which has been completely removed. "Pavarotti is recovering well and his physicians are encouraged by the physical and emotional resilience of their patient," Robson said in a statement. All remaining dates on his 2006 farewell tour have been cancelled, however. ~ snip ~

<p>May 10, 2002 -- Luciano Pavarotti has confided he is "unlikely" to perform at his much-touted farewell New York opera tomorrow - triggering fears of a Pava-riot at the Met.</p> <p>Aficionados paid up to $1,875 a ticket to see the legendary Pavarotti perform "Tosca" after the Metropolitan Opera dramatically inflated prices on the understanding it would be his final staged opera here.</p>