Pavarotti
 

I guess everyone has heard the sad news that Luciano Pavarotti has died. The most amazing voice from that giant of a man. It will live forever in his recordings but if, like me, you had the good fortune to hear him live, you have memories of something truly special. The recordings are superb, live was so much more. Rest in peace big guy.

That is sad, he was amazing. I wanted to him him live and never had the chance. I always found out about his concerts after he passed through.

I too never experienced his voice live, but I have heard enough recordings to get a sense of what those live performances might have been like. Let's just put it this way: If his performance is going to be recorded, then MAYBE he MIGHT need a microphone. If not, then no. He wouldn't need one.

I have the 'sacred songs' album he did with (I believe) the Vienna Boys Choir. What a combo. Pavarotti singing with a choir of angels. Panis Angelicus, both Ave Maria versions and "Oh, Holy Night." When he hits the high note in that last one, the hair on the back of my neck stands up and my vision gets poor.

My favorite is the recording of Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi live at La Scala in 1966.
I believe it was his first disc.

Amazing artist.
Great Man.

It was sad to see him fade near the end. Unfortunately, he was not as strong in the last few years of his career. Truly an awesome man that will be missed however.

The world is an emptier place today. :(

So sad. I flew him twice and a very nice man.

Now God has a concert anytime he wishes...

I; like a lot of people I suppose, have NO background or real understanding of opera. As close as I ever came to an opera was to listen to some hyper silly joke version of an aria on a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Not a joke, sadly true.

Yesterday, I had a long commute and was cruising through the radio dial. I heard several extended cuts of him on NPR - I was blown away. I have NO IDEA what these aria's (?) were from but whatver he was singing about I was almost overcome by the emotion he could communicate.
Reminded me of the stunned convicts in the Shawshank Redemption - I was the convict!

Terms like genius, and voices that are a "gift" from God get thrown around too cheaply. His talent was phenommenal. Rest in Peace Luciano.

Reportedly, he was a fan of fast cars and F1 too. He will be missed.

Sherwood

FWIW, on his radio show, Michael Savage played Pavarotti...then said: "No matter how short her skirt, Brittney Spears is nothing compared to this greatness."

Really pathetic that with all of the media outlets and channels we have have in the US, none saw fit to run the funeral live. I was able to watch it on the Italian international channel (RAI) on satellite.

Buon riposo.

One of the finest recordings ever made IMHO.

I saw him live in concert in AC years ago and caught him at the Met once. Truly a phenomenal voice. I've been looking for a recording of his debut when he hit 7 high C's in fairly quick succession. I don't think the recording exists but I keep looking.

Ciao Luciano

Growing up American Italian and having Italian immigrant Grandparents I would hear his signing when I was little.

What did it for me was seeing this about 13 years ago. I suggest you rent it, it will blow you away.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198270/


A clip from it.

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I identify Luciano with that aria more than any other. Hearing him do it live was a treat. Can't help but get drawn into it every time I hear him sing it.

Jim, Thank so much for posting that link. So beautiful. I'm awed. So sad that an instrument like that has been forver silenced. Again, I hope he rests in peace.

Well written article about Luciano.

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2007/09/07/luciano_pavarotti_71_tenor_transcended_opera_world/?page=1

I always thought the Three Tenors thing a little cheesy but God whenever I think of my Grandma Santina Angelina the soundtrack is that voice singing nessun dorma, or Tosca.

That is the thing with Pavarotti - the critics have always picked on him but he communicated the love he had for the songs to the audience directly and better than anyone else.

And he was one of those characters who is SO Italian in all its wonderful, comical, ridiculous and profoundly sincere manifestations.

In 3 Tenors I was more impressed over the fact that Pavarotti could sing with such ease and Carreras and Domingo seemed to work so hard.

A chance to hear them side by side in the same song was neat in my opinion, but yes, I can see how it would be cheesy from a purist point of view. Being a casual listener and not a purist I found it very entertaining as I would imagine many other casual listeners would.

That is the thing exactly.
Domingo really has a more classical, academically trained voice. He has better range than Pavorotti even if he could not match the quality of Luciano's high C's (in Pavarotti's prime). He is a great opera singer.
But great Art is not only about skill. It is about communicating feelings.
Magic.
How can Bob Dylan possibly be so good ? That voice ?

I am sorry if you think I was demeaning the format or the feelings you experienced . Cheese is a big part of that wonderful Italian character (and cooking).
It must have been VERY neat indeed.