Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti was the most well-known opera singer of his lifetime. Our generation's Caruso, Pavarotti shared with Caruso a naturalness and ease of singing, as well as an ever-growing fan base that crossed over from opera buffs to all types of music lovers. Pavarotti was born in Modena, Italy in 1935; his father was a baker and an amateur tenor. As a child, Pavarotti sang with his father in the cathedral choir, and then with the Modena city choir. He wanted to be a professional soccer player, and was known to be quite good. However, his mother thought it best for young Luciano to have a more realistic profession, so Pavarotti first became an elementary school teacher, then tried to be an insurance agent. Finally, his father offered to support him for a few years, to see if he could become a professional singer. In 1961 he won the Achille Peri Competition, the prize being a debut as Rodolfo in La Boheme in Reggio Emilia. Four years later, Pavarotti was singing with Joan Sutherland as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, first in Miami and then on her tour to Australia. In 1966, Pavarotti made his debut at Convent Garden as Tonio in La Fille du Regiment. When he wowed audiences by effortlessly gliding through the nine successive high Cs in the aria, "Pour mon âme," his career took off, and he took on the nickname of "King of the high Cs." Pavarotti sang in the major opera houses of the world, specializing in the operas of Bellini, Donizetti, Puccini, and Verdi. His rendition of "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot became his signature in concerts, as much as holding a white handkerchief was. Pavarotti co-created the television and live performance phenomenon "The Three Tenors", appearing with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Although his 1982 film, "Yes, Giorgio," might be his only performance best forgotten, Pavarotti's work on behalf of benefits for AIDS, world hunger, and children will always be remembered -- as will his pure voice. Pavarotti died in his hometown on September 6, 2007.
