Luciano Pavarotti, 1935-2007

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Luciano Pavarotti, 1935-2007

David Weigel | September 6, 2007

Here's a thread to discuss the passing of one of the 20th Century's great voices. Christopher Porterfield has a nice appreciation, as does Alan Bock. And this YouTube video's traffic is spiking to "History of Dance" levels.

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Bubba Zanetti|9.6.07 @ 9:52AM|#

Franco Corelli had a more exciting, thrilling voice. But the marketing machine that latched on to Pavarotti's distinct sound made him a force of nature in the (pre-internet) music biz.

VM|9.6.07 @ 10:08AM|#

Two to go.

Now it's a race with the Beatles.

lunchstealer|9.6.07 @ 10:38AM|#

Yeah, but VM, people could actually name the remaining Beatles. Seriously, who are the other two tenors?

|9.6.07 @ 10:47AM|#

Well, there's Captain Tenor. That's one.

|9.6.07 @ 11:02AM|#

I got to see him at the Baltimore Area a while back with my Grandmother before she passed on. WOW, is the only word I could think of after seeing Pavarotti.

An amazing singer and man. Will surely be missed.

Oh and the other two tenors are, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo.

lunchstealer|9.6.07 @ 11:20AM|#

OK, Placido Domingo I've at least heard of, although I think I thought he was a classical guitarist, for some reason.

I really just remember Pavaroti from the opening ceremonies to the '06 Winter Games where he introduced the world to the Black-tie-and-mumu as the pinacle of plus-size formalwear.

|9.6.07 @ 1:39PM|#

Oh, and there's the Green Tenor.

|9.6.07 @ 2:54PM|#

Joe Feeney LIVES!

gs|9.6.07 @ 2:55PM|#

What, Mr. Weigel, no before/after chemotherapy pictures? No snarky non-sequiturs? I hardly know what blog I'm reading anymore.

WHOSE BLOG IS THIS GS??? SAY I|9.6.07 @ 4:12PM|#

"hardly know what blog I'm reading anymore."

THAT'S BECAUSE YOU CAN'T READ.

*WHITHERS SOME PASSER-BY'S TAINT

Scop|9.6.07 @ 7:33PM|#

Why all this nastiness? I don't like opera either, but I can at least appreciate the talent and discipline required to hold the final note in "Nessun Dorma" for as long as he did. He would never have made it in American Idol, because he actually could sing.

As for the three tenors, yes it was a bit schlocky, but the genesis of it was Carreras' suffering from throat cancer. Pavarotti and Domingo--apparently huge rivals--did a concert to raise his spirits during treatment. Later, all three got together.

So have some respect, my fellow proles! Just because we don't own our formal wear, and don't have reserved seats at La Scala, doesn't mean that we shouldn't show a modicum of respect for a master of an old art form--even if we don't enjoy that art any more.

RIP, Luciano.