[Dan in Pasadena]

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.