Luciano Pavarotti is a legend among opera fans.
Opera is a musical play that tells a story. Most people consider it the most comprehensive art form, combining all art elements, language, music, drama, and dance. Generally, music to express a whole story/plot defines opera. That is because it is believed that music can better explain people’s feelings and emotions than simple words.
The main storyteller in an opera is what you call an opera singer. An opera singer is a skilled performer who learns music and theater professionally to perform opera.
Opera singers do more than sing. They combine their remarkable musical talent with impressive acting and movement abilities to bring librettists’ and composers’ work to life. And one of the most prominent opera singers worldwide is Luciano Pavarotti.
Who was Luciano Pavarotti?
Luciano Pavarotti was a well-known classical singer best known for his innovative and popular performances with the Three Tenors and Pavarotti & Friends. He started his operatic debut as Rodolfo in La Boheme in 1961 at the Teatro Reggio Emilia. Then had his international debut at the Royal Opera House in London in 1963.
Two years later, he made his American debut in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, staged in Miami. With that, Pavarotti became a renowned and internationally known opera artist. He gained a massive following due to his records and television appearances, influencing global interest in opera.
A memorable performance with his father
It was a touching and significant moment for Luciano Paravotti to stand on stage and sing a duet song of Panis Angelicus with his 88-year-old father, Fernando Paravotti. Even though Fernando’s singing voice has faded as he approaches 90 years of age, the look on their faces showing love and pride makes this an extraordinary musical moment.
César Franck’s Panis Angelicus
César Franck, a Belgian-born but ultimately French composer, created some incredible music filled with innovative, enticing melodies.
Any trip through Franck’s music is delightful, from the bright Violin Sonata in A to the challenging Variations of Symphoniques for piano and orchestra. Nonetheless, he is most known for this one piece of music, Panis Angelicus, which has been recorded hundreds of times and is still played worldwide. Below are the lyrics of the composition.
Panis angelicus
Fit panis hominum;
Dat panis cœlicus
Figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis!
Manducat Dominum
Pauper, servus et humilis
Te trina Deitas
Unaque poscimus:
Sic nos tu visita
Sicut te colimus;
Per tuas semitas
Duc nos quo tendimus
Ad lucem quam inhabitas
Amen
Iconic collaborations
Throughout the years, Luciano Pavarotti performed remarkable duets with singers in various genres, such as pop, rock, soul, and many more. Proving how talented and fabulous the singer Pavarotti is. Some of the singers he collaborated with include the following:
The Three Tenors
Pavarotti’s fondness for the World Cup began in 1990. Then, not only was the recording of his version of Nessun Dorma used as a musical piece, but he also began to sing as The Three Tenors with José Carreras and Placido Domingo.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton and Luciano Pavarotti sang this wonderful song to the Blessed Mother in 1996. The East London Gospel Choir joined them for the heartfelt Christian song written by Eric Clapton himself. The song Holy Mother was initially included in August, Clapton’s 1986 album. The song is a passionate plea for Mary’s mercy.
Bono
The benefit concert, Pavarotti & Friends, brought out the best duet performance of Luciano Pavarotti with various artists. And those legendary performances include the duet between Pavarotti and Bono, the leading vocalist of U2, performing Schubert’s Ave Maria. Along with these two and other performers, the concert ended with great success and became one of the most unforgettable moments in the music industry.
James Brown
Another great collaboration between two music legends was seen during the concert of Pavarotti & Friends. And these legends pertain to Luciano Pavarotti, a tale known for performing in an opera, and James Brown, a legend of soul beats. The two performed It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World, iconic and magically, showing its audience what will happen when mid-town funk and high-brow opera combine.
Spice Girls
Spice girls, one of the most well-known British pop girl groups worldwide, was given a chance to have a collab performance during the Pavarotti & Friends concerts. And this was back on June 9, 1998, when Pavarotti and the girl group performed Viva Forever. That exact day Pavarotti gained another title, the Mel High C.
Luciano Pavarotti: The King of the High C’s
Luciano Pavarotti has played an essential role in bringing opera globally. He left numerous masterpieces throughout his career as the King of High C’s and part of The Three Tenors. This tenor singer is considered someone who captivated his audiences with his songs, works, and artistic life. Even though he is not here anymore, people will never forget him as one of Italy’s greatest artists.
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