LUCIANO PAVAROTTI Biography - Theater, Opera and Movie personalities

 
 

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LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

Name: Luciano Pavarotti                                                                   
Born: 12 October 1935                                                                     
                                                                                           
Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce (October 12, 1935 — September 6,             
2007) was an Italian operatic tenor, who crossed over into popular music and               
became one of the world's most famous vocal performers. He was one of The Three           
Tenors and was well known for his televised concerts and media appearances.               
Pavarotti was also noted for his charity work benefiting refugees, the Red Cross           
and other causes.                                                                         
                                                                                           
He was born in Modena to the family of a baker. After abandoning the dream to             
become a professional football goalkeeper, Pavarotti spent seven years in vocal           
training and began his career as a tenor in 1961 in Italy. He sang in houses in           
The Netherlands, Vienna, London, Ankara, Budapest and Barcelona. The young tenor           
earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the               
invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland and during his 1965 US debut in Miami on             
her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and             
1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's La Scala, other major               
European houses and, in 1968, NYC's Metropolitan Opera to great acclaim.                   
                                                                                           
By the mid-1970s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and           
beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became               
one of his trademarks. The late 1970s and 1980s saw Pavarotti making significant           
appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the             
great singers of the era.                                                                 
                                                                                           
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of               
Nessun Dorma,sample (help·info) from Turandot and as one of The Three Tenors in           
their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated   
at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo           
and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously                 
confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in           
concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained             
his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.                             
                                                                                           
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight           
gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the             
Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing             
for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus,             
and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in           
Modena from pancreatic cancer.