Tenor Pavarotti Dies

LONDON - Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian tenor, whose name has been synonymous with the word "opera" for people across the world died on Thursday.

News of his death at the age of 71 from cancer dominated news headlines across the world, reflecting the huge popularity of the singer, thought to be one of the most successful performers in the classical world. He died in his home town of Modena in Italy, which said it would be naming a theater in his honor. The Vienna Opera House, where Pavarotti delivered to many a packed house, raised a black flag as a mark of respect.

Pavarotti who has sang at leading opera houses across the world, will perhaps be best remembered as one of the three tenors--also including Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. Their numerous performances of operatic favorites such as "Nessun Dorma" may have raised the hackles of some opera puritans, but helped popularize a form of music that has been struggling to appeal to wider audiences.

"Through his countless broadcasts, recordings and concerts he introduced the extraordinary power of opera to people who perhaps would never have encountered opera and classical singing, in doing so he enriched their lives," said London's Royal Opera House.

"He brought arts performance to people who don't go to opera house. None of the classical singers have had the ability and courage to do that," said Hong Kong tenor Warren Mok.

Pavarotti's operatic career began at a very young age, encouraged by his music family. His father was a baker, but sang regularly in performances in his spare time, and in later years appeared aside his son in concerts, including at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. .

By his mid twenties Pavarotti had built up quite a following in his home country, but it was his performance at the Royal Opera House in 1963 that catapulted him to international fame. He was brought in by the prestigious opera house to stand in for Giuseppe di Stefano, a famous Sicilian tenor, and ended up delivering most of the performances of Rodolfo in La Boheme. During that period a performance he delivered at the London Palladium was broadcast on British television, and is said to have been watched by millions.

Throughout his career Pavarotti retained a special affection for the Royal Opera House and regularly returned to deliver performances, the last being in 2002, when he performed despite the death of his mother just days before.

Ron Freedman, who was chief wig and make up master at the Royal Opera House during almost all of Pavarotti's performances there, remembered him as a singer who was always very at ease with himself, even just before performances. Talking to Forbes.com about his numerous encounters with the singer, he remembered how remarkably relaxed the singer was often before performances, once playing the piano while his father sang, on another instance wolfing down a bowl of pasta before a concert. He would often apply his own make up - something that is perhaps rather unexpected from a person of his standing.

"He knew his capabilities and was confident about how he approached a role," said Freedman. "That makes life for a singer so much easier."

Adding to Pavarotti's appeal was his rather ebullient personality--which came across strongly during his performances and his personal interactions. His ability to sing with great personality and emotion made him ideally suited to lead roles in some of the Italian greats such as Verdi and Puccini, though he also regularly sang others including Strauss and Mozart. He delivered his last public performance, of "Nessun Dorma," at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy in 2006.

"The whole world will be listening today to his voice on every radio and television station. And that will continue. And that is his legacy. He will never stop," said conductor Zubin Mehta, who directed Pavarotti for several "Three Tenors" concerts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: The Forbes.com