It was one year ago this month my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died last December after a few strokes then falling into a coma. Thank God she was never in any pain throughout her ordeal - she was lucky. It is a nasty, nasty cancer that is fatal even after treatment.
Oh no.
This may be open to debate by some, but I agree with this assessment. I've heard records, tapes and live performances by many tenors and I can't think of anyone better, including famous singers long, long gone.
He had the voice of an angel. There will be a gloomy void in the music world after he's gone.
Leni
More than once when some opera company that I had never auditioned for hired me he would say, "Thank Mr. Pavarotti". I knew that Luciano had no idea who is was but that just being on the same roster with him garnered me a certain glamour.
His was the greatest voice I have ever heard. Many at the Met still speak of Caruso as the greatest of all time, but to my ear, Pavarotti's voice was a miracle. He sang with incredible ease. The sheer resonance of his tenor made everyone else on stage sound like they were singing backstage. That's why he made such a great duo with Dame Joan Sutherland. She was the only soprano of that era who could match Pavarotti in range and amplitude.
His passing will be the end of an age. He did not come out the university and conservatory system as do almost all modern opera singers and he retained some of the manner of a local singer with the talent of a superstar. That's why he appealed to people. He seemed approachable... like a regular guy, not an effete artiste. Modern singers are stamped out of a mold. He was an original and it is likely that we will not see his like again.
Sad news indeed. BTT.
God bless the great man...
I am heartbroken at his health as I am fan and also had tickets for his Glasgow concert in 2006, and will sadly now never see the great man.
prayers up!
He is a true wonder and one of a kind. I wish him the best on earth as in heaven.
He has the voice of an angel and has thrilled many.
God be with you Pavorotti!
Worth a look....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egKw2tr_NBo
How very sad! Although I prefer a Heldentenor, it was Luciano Pavarotti’s Arias that was the first CD I ever bought. That was in May 1983 at Liberty Music in Ann Arbor. I bought the CD player four months later over the Labor Day weekend. A Magnavox! I think it cost me $700. LOL! I felt so cutting edge!
I last played that CD for dinner before the final episode of The Sopranos. The dinner, the wine, and the music — all perfect. We should have ended the evening without turning on the TV.
I last saw him at the Rosemount (I think that’s what it’s called — outside of Chicago). He was billed with Sutherland, but SHE cancelled because of some jet lag related excuse. Oh, the irony!
What a loss!
His body passes on but the body of his work lives on, an inspiration to young singers everywhere. The ugliest sound you’ll ever hear is the angry human voice, the most beautiful sound you’ll ever hear is Luciano singing the music of eternity.
His rendition of "Non Ti Scordar Di Me" still gives me goosebumps.