Luciano Pavarotti performing on June 15, 2002 at a concert in the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille

Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 12, 1935—September 6, 2007) was an Italian tenor, who crossed over into popular music and became one of the world's most famous vocal performers. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Stade Vélodrome is a 60031 capacity Stadium in Marseille, France. Marseille, ( English alt Marseilles mɑrˈseɪ — French: maʁsɛj locally — Provençal Occitan: Marselha maʀˈsijɔ There are currently five Italian orders of merit (Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana that recognise contributions to the Italian Republic. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice Popular music is Music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more He was one of The Three Tenors and was well known for his televised concerts and media appearances. The Three Tenors is a name given to a consort of singers who held concerts under this banner during the 1990s and early 2000s Spaniards Plácido Domingo Pavarotti was also noted for his charity work benefiting refugees, the Red Cross and other causes. According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an International humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers worldwide who stated

He was born in Modena to the family of a baker. Modena (ˈmɔːdena Mòdna in Modenese dialect is a city and a Comune ( Municipality) on the south side of the Po valley, in the 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. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered In many team Sports a goalkeeper (termed goaltender netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest He sang in opera houses in The Netherlands, Vienna, London, Ankara, Budapest and Barcelona. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after İstanbul. Budapest ( also /ˈbʊ-/) is the capital city of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary it serves as the country's principal Political, Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia 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. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (born 7 November 1926 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. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous Opera houses The theatre was Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880 is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera.

By the mid-1970s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. ^[1] His "high C" became one of his trademarks. C or Do is the first Note of the fixed-Do Solfege. In Western Music, the expression " Middle C " refers to the note 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). Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Nessun dorma (English edition None shall sleep tonight) is an Aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini 's Opera Turandot is an Opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, set to a Libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni The Three Tenors is a name given to a consort of singers who held concerts under this banner during the 1990s and early 2000s Spaniards Plácido Domingo 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. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> José Plácido Domingo Embil KBE (born January 21, 1941) better WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Josep Carreras i Coll (born December 5, 1946, Barcelona 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. Crossover is a term applied to Musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the Record charts which track differing musical tastes or genres

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. March 2004: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, were a Winter Multi-sport event which was celebrated in Pavarotti lip-synced^[2] 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. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the Pancreas. Each year about 37680 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with this condition and 34290

Biography

Earlier life and musical training

Luciano Pavarotti, was born on the outskirts of Modena in north-central Italy, the son of Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and amateur tenor, and Adele Venturi, a cigar factory worker. Modena (ˈmɔːdena Mòdna in Modenese dialect is a city and a Comune ( Municipality) on the south side of the Po valley, in the Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest ^[3] Although he spoke fondly of his childhood, the family had little money; its four members were crowded into a two-room apartment. According to Pavarotti, his father had a fine tenor voice but rejected the possibility of a singing career because of nervousness. World War II forced the family out of the city in 1943. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including For the following year they rented a single room from a farmer in the neighboring countryside, where young Pavarotti developed an interest in farming.

Pavarotti's earliest musical influences were his father's recordings, most of them featuring the popular tenors of the day — Beniamino Gigli, Giovanni Martinelli, Tito Schipa and Enrico Caruso. Beniamino Gigli ( March 20, 1890 - November 30, 1957) was an Italian Singer, widely regarded as one of the very greatest WikipediaWikiProject_Opera#Infoboxes --> Giovanni Martinelli ( 22 October, 1885, Montagnana – WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Tito Schipa ( 27 December 1888 &ndash 16 December 1965 Enrico Caruso (born Errico Caruso; February 25 1873 &ndash August 2 1921) was an Italian Opera singer Pavarotti's favorite tenor and idol was Giuseppe Di Stefano^[4] and Jan Kiepura. Giuseppe Di Stefano ( 24 July 1921 &ndash 3 March 2008) was an Italian Operatic Tenor whose career lasted from the late Jan Wiktor Kiepura (b May 16 1902, Sosnowiec, Poland &ndash d He was also deeply influenced by Mario Lanza, saying, "In my teens I used to go to Mario Lanza movies and then come home and imitate him in the mirror. WikipediaWikiProject_Opera#Infoboxes --> Mario Lanza ( January 31, 1921 &ndash October 7 1959 "^[5] At around the age of nine he began singing with his father in a small local church choir.

After what appears to have been a normal childhood with a typical interest in sports — in Pavarotti's case football (soccer) above all — he graduated from the Schola Magistrale and faced the dilemma of a career choice. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered He was interested in pursuing a career as a professional football (soccer) goalkeeper, but his mother convinced him to train as a teacher. In many team Sports a goalkeeper (termed goaltender netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports He subsequently taught in an elementary school for two years but finally allowed his interest in music to win out. Recognizing the risk involved, his father gave his consent only reluctantly.

Pavarotti began the serious study of music in 1954 at the age of 19 with Arrigo Pola, a respected teacher and professional tenor in Modena who offered to teach him without remuneration. Not until he began these studies was Pavarotti aware that he had perfect pitch. Absolute pitch (AP widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or recreate a Musical Note without the benefit of a known

In 1955, he experienced his first singing success when he was a member of the Choral Rossini, a male choir from Modena that also included his father, which won first prize at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales; he later said that this was the most important experience of his life, which had inspired him to turn professional. The International Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Llangollen (ɬaŋ'ɡoɬɛn is a small town in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn ^[6] At about this time Pavarotti first met Adua Veroni, whom he married in 1961.

When his teacher Arrigo Pola moved to Japan, Pavarotti became a student of Ettore Campogalliani, who at that time was also teaching Pavarotti's childhood friend, Mirella Freni, whose mother worked with Luciano's in the cigar factory. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Mirella Freni (born 27 February 1935 as Mirella Fregni is an Italian Opera Soprano much admired for the youthful Like Pavarotti, Freni was destined to operatic greatness; they were to share the stage many times and make memorable recordings together.

During his years of musical study Pavarotti held part-time jobs in order to sustain himself — first as an elementary school teacher and then as an insurance salesman. The first six years of study resulted in only a few recitals, all in small towns and without pay. When a nodule developed on his vocal cords causing a "disastrous" concert in Ferrara, he decided to give up singing. A vocal cord nodule (or "Nodules of vocal cords" is a Nodule or mass of tissue that grows on the Vocal folds (vocal cords The vocal folds, also known commonly as vocal cords, are composed of twin infoldings of Mucous membrane stretched horizontally across the Larynx. Ferrara is a city in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. Pavarotti attributed his immediate improvement to the psychological release connected with this decision. Whatever the reason, the nodule not only disappeared but, as he related in his autobiography, "Everything I had learned came together with my natural voice to make the sound I had been struggling so hard to achieve. "

Career

1960s–1970s

Pavarotti began his career as a tenor in smaller regional Italian opera houses, making his debut as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Teatro Municipale in Reggio Emilia in April, 1961. For the city in the southern Italy See Reggio Calabria. For the basketball club "Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia" see Pallacanestro Reggiana. April holidays and events National Poetry Month - in United States National Sexual Assault Awareness Month - in United Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Very early in his career, on February 23, 1963, he debuted at the Vienna State Opera with the same role. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Vienna State Opera ( Wiener Staatsoper) located in Vienna, Austria, is one of the most important Opera houses - and opera companies - in In March and April 1963 Vienna saw Pavarotti again as Rodolfo and as Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto. Rigoletto is an Opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian Libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based The same year saw his Royal Opera House debut, where he replaced an indisposed Giuseppe di Stefano as Rodolfo. This article is about the post-1945 opera company at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Giuseppe Di Stefano ( 24 July 1921 &ndash 3 March 2008) was an Italian Operatic Tenor whose career lasted from the late ^[7]

While generally successful, Pavarotti's early roles did not immediately propel him into the stardom that he would later enjoy. An early coup involved his connection with Joan Sutherland (and her conductor husband, Richard Bonynge), who in 1963 had sought a young tenor taller than herself to take along on her touring to Australia. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (born 7 November 1926 Richard Bonynge, CBE (last name pronounced "bonning" (born 29 September 1930 is an Australian Conductor and pianist For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. ^[8] At well over 6 feet tall and with his commanding physical presence, Pavarotti proved ideal. ^[9]. The two sang some forty performances over two months, and Pavarotti later credited Sutherland for the breathing technique that would sustain him over his career. ^[10]

Pavarotti made his American début with the Greater Miami Opera in February 1965 singing in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor opposite Joan Sutherland on the stage of the Miami-Dade County Auditorium in Miami. Florida Grand Opera (FGO, is the seventh oldest opera company in the United States currently in its 68th season Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 &ndash 8 April 1848 was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. Lucia di Lammermoor is a dramma tragico (tragic Opera) in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (born 7 November 1926 Miami-Dade County (often referred to as simply Miami or Dade) is a County located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida The tenor scheduled to perform that night was ill and had no understudy. As Sutherland was traveling with him on tour, she recommended the young Pavarotti as he was well acquainted with the role.

Shortly after, on April 28, Pavarotti made his La Scala debut in the revival of the famous Franco Zeffirelli production of La bohème, with his childhood friend Mirella Freni singing Mimi and Herbert von Karajan conducting. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous Opera houses The theatre was Franco Zeffirelli, KBE (born Gianfranco Corsi on February 12, 1923) is an Italian Film director. Mirella Freni (born 27 February 1935 as Mirella Fregni is an Italian Opera Soprano much admired for the youthful WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Herbert von Karajan ( April 5 Karajan had requested the singer's engagement. After an extended Australian tour he returned to La Scala where he added Tebaldo from I Capuleti e i Montecchi to his repertoire on March 26, 1966, with Giacomo Aragall as Romeo. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. I Capuleti e i Montecchi ( The Capulets and the Montagues) is an Italian Opera by Vincenzo Bellini. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Jaume Aragall i Garriga better known as Giacomo Aragall is a Spanish / Catalan Tenor, born in Barcelona, Spain on 6 His first appearance as Tonio in Donizetti's La fille du régiment took place at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on June 2 of that year. La fille du régiment ( The Daughter of the Regiment) is an Opéra comique in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Covent Garden (Pronunciation kɒvʌnt is a district in London, England, located on the easternmost parts of the City of Westminster and the southwest Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks It was his performances of this role that would earn him the title of "King of the High Cs".

He scored another major triumph in Rome on November 20, 1969 when he sang in I Lombardi opposite Renata Scotto. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. I Lombardi alla prima crociata ( The Lombards on the First Crusade) is an Operatic dramma lirico in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Renata Scotto (born February 24, 1934) is an Italian Soprano. This was recorded on a private label and widely distributed, as were various recordings of his I Capuleti e i Montecchi, usually with Aragall. I Capuleti e i Montecchi ( The Capulets and the Montagues) is an Italian Opera by Vincenzo Bellini. Early commercial recordings included a recital of Donizetti (the aria from Don Sebastiano was particularly highly regarded) and Verdi arias, as well as a complete L'elisir d'amore with Sutherland. Dom Sébastien Roi de Portugal ( Don Sebastian King of Portugal) is a French Grand opera in five acts by Gaetano Donizetti. This article is about the musical term "aria" For other meanings or uses of the word see Aria (disambiguation. L'elisir d'amore ( The Elixir of Love) is a Melodramma giocoso in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti.

His major breakthrough in the United States came on February 17, 1972, in a production of La fille du régiment at New York's Metropolitan Opera, in which he drove the crowd into a frenzy with his nine effortless high Cs in the signature aria. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. La fille du régiment ( The Daughter of the Regiment) is an Opéra comique in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The City of New York The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880 is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. C or Do is the first Note of the fixed-Do Solfege. In Western Music, the expression " Middle C " refers to the note This article is about the musical term "aria" For other meanings or uses of the word see Aria (disambiguation. He achieved a record 17 curtain calls. He began to give frequent television performances, starting with his performances in the of role as Rodolfo (La bohème) in the first Live from the Met telecast in March 1977, which attracted one of the largest audiences ever for a televised opera. Live from the Met was an American television program that presented performances of complete operas from the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, on the Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays He won many Grammy awards and platinum and gold discs for his performances. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences In addition to the previously listed titles, his La favorita with Fiorenza Cossotto and his I puritani (1975) with Sutherland stand out. La favorite ( The Favorite) is an Opera in four acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a French Libretto by Alphonse Royer and Fiorenza Cossotto is an Italian Mezzo soprano. She is considered by many to be one of the great mezzo-sopranos of the 20th century I puritani ( The Puritans) is an Opera in three acts by Vincenzo Bellini.

In 1976, Pavarotti debuted at the Salzburg Festival appearing in a solo recital on July 31 accompanied by pianist Leone Magiera. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele is a prominent festival of Music and Drama. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Pavarotti returned to the festival in 1978 with a recital and as the Italian singer in Der Rosenkavalier, in 1983 with Idomeneo, and both in 1985 and 1988 with solo recitals. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Der Rosenkavalier ( op 59 ( The Knight of the Rose) is a comic Opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to an original Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Idomeneo re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante ( Italian: Idomeneo King of Crete or Ilia and Idamante; usually referred to simply as Idomeneo Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar)

In 1977, he was profiled in a cover story in the weekly magazine, Time. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and That same year saw Pavarotti's return to the Vienna State Opera after an absence of 14 years. With Herbert von Karajan conducting, Pavarotti sang Manrico in Il trovatore. Il trovatore ( The Troubadour) is an Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian Libretto by Leone Emanuele Bardare In 1978, he appeared in a solo recital on Live from Lincoln Center. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Live from Lincoln Center is an ongoing series of musical performances produced by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with Thirteen/WNET

He made his international recital début at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri in 1973 as part of the college’s Fine Arts Program, now known as the Harriman-Jewell Series. A recital is a Musical ( Vocal or instrumental Performance. It can highlight a single performer sometimes accompanied by Piano, or William Jewell College is a private four-year liberal arts college of 1274 undergraduate students located in Liberty Missouri, U Liberty is a city in Clay County Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City Missouri. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Perspiring due to nerves and a lingering cold, the tenor clutched a handkerchief throughout the début. The prop became a signature part of his solo performances.

1980s–1990s

Luciano Pavarotti in the role of Rodolfo from La Boheme (1988)

Bronze sculpture of Luciano Pavarotti, made by Serge Mangin in 1987^[11]

At the beginning of the 1980s, he set up The Pavarotti International Voice Competition for young singers, performing with the winners in 1982 in excerpts of La bohème and L'elisir d'amore. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) L'elisir d'amore ( The Elixir of Love) is a Melodramma giocoso in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. The second competition in 1986 staged excerpts of La bohème and Un ballo in maschera. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball, is an Opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his career, he brought the winners of the competition to Italy for gala performances of La bohème in Modena and Genoa and then to China where they staged performances of La bohème in Beijing. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Genoa ( Genova, ˈdʒɛːnova in Italian; Zena in Genoese and Ligurian; Genua in Latin and archaically in English China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National To conclude the visit, Pavarotti performed the first ever concert in the Great Hall of the People before 10,000 people, receiving a standing ovation for nine effortless high Cs. The Great Hall of the People ( is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and is used for legislative and The third competition in 1989 again staged performances of L'elisir d'amore and Un ballo in maschera. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) The winners of the fifth competition accompanied Pavarotti in performances in Philadelphia in 1997. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar

In the mid-1980s, Pavarotti returned to two opera houses that had provided him with important breakthroughs, the Vienna State Opera and La Scala. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Vienna saw Pavarotti as Rodolfo in La bohème with Carlos Kleiber conducting and again Mirella Freni was Mimi; as Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore; as Radames in Aida conducted by Lorin Maazel; as Rodolfo in Luisa Miller; and as Gustavo in Un ballo in maschera conducted by Claudio Abbado. Carlos Kleiber ( July 3, 1930 - July 13, 2004) was an Austrian-Argentine conductor. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Lorin Varencove Maazel (born March 6, 1930) is a Luisa Miller is an Opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, based on the play WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Claudio Abbado, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (born June In 1996, Pavarotti appeared for the last time at the Staatsoper in Andrea Chenier. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Andrea Chénier is an Opera in four acts by the Verismo composer Umberto Giordano, set to an Italian Libretto by Luigi Illica

In 1985, Pavarotti sang Radames at La Scala opposite Maria Chiara in a Luca Ronconi production conducted by Maazel, recorded on video. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Maria Chiara (born 24 November 1939) is an Italian lyric Soprano. Luca Ronconi (born 8 March 1933 in Sousse, Tunisia) is an Italian actor theater director and Opera director His performance of the aria "Celeste Aida" received a two-minute ovation on the opening night. He was reunited with Mirella Freni for the San Francisco Opera production of La bohème in 1988, also recorded on video. San Francisco Opera (SFO is the second largest Opera company in North America. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) In 1992, La Scala saw Pavarotti in a new Zeffirelli production of Don Carlo conducted by Riccardo Muti. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Riccardo Muti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (b Pavarotti's performance was heavily criticized by some observers and booed by parts of the audience.

Pavarotti became even more well-known throughout the world in 1990 when his rendition of Giacomo Puccini's aria, "Nessun dorma" from Turandot, became the theme song of the BBC TV coverage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini ( December 22, 1858 Nessun dorma (English edition None shall sleep tonight) is an Aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini 's Opera Turandot is an Opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, set to a Libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The aria achieved pop status and remained his trademark song. This was followed by the hugely successful Three Tenors concert held on the eve of the World Cup final at the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome with fellow tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and conductor Zubin Mehta, which became the biggest selling classical record of all time. The Three Tenors is a name given to a consort of singers who held concerts under this banner during the 1990s and early 2000s Spaniards Plácido Domingo The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths or Thermae, built in Rome between AD 212 and 216 during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> José Plácido Domingo Embil KBE (born January 21, 1941) better WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Josep Carreras i Coll (born December 5, 1946, Barcelona WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Zubin Mehta (born April 29 1936 is an Indian conductor The dates of the Classical period in Western music are generally accepted as 1750 to 1810 A highlight of the concert, in which Pavarotti hammed up a famous portion of di Capua's "O Sole Mio" and was mimicked by Domingo and Carreras to the delight of the audience, became one of the most memorable moments in contemporary operatic history. Throughout the 1990s, Pavarotti appeared in many well-attended outdoor concerts, including his televised concert in London's Hyde Park which drew a record attendance of 150,000. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Hyde Park is one of the largest Parks in central London, England and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner In June 1993, more than 500,000 listeners gathered for his performance on the Great Lawn of New York's Central Park, while millions more around the world watched on television. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Central Park is a large public Urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually The following September, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, he sang for an estimated crowd of 300,000. The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel /tuʀ ɛfɛl/ is an Iron Tower built Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Following on from the original 1990 concert, The Three Tenors concerts were held during the Football World Cups; in Los Angeles in 1994, in Paris in 1998, and in Yokohama in 2002. The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar.

Pavarotti's rise to stardom was not without occasional difficulties, however. He earned a reputation as "The King of Cancellations" by frequently backing out of performances, and his unreliable nature led to poor relationships with some opera houses. This was brought into focus in 1989 when Ardis Krainik of the Lyric Opera of Chicago severed the house's 15-year relationship with the tenor. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Ardis Joan Krainik (1928 – 1997 was an American Mezzo-soprano Opera singer who spent her entire career at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading Opera companies in the United States. ^{[12], [13]} Over an eight-year period, Pavarotti had cancelled 26 out of 41 scheduled appearances at the Lyric and the decisive move by Krainik to ban him for life was well-noted throughout the opera world, after the performer walked away from a season premiere less than two weeks before rehearsals began, saying pain from a sciatic nerve required two months of treatment. The sciatic nerve (also known as the ischiatic nerve) is a large Nerve that starts in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the Lower limb

On December 12, 1998 he became the first (and, to date, only) opera singer to perform on Saturday Night Live, singing alongside Vanessa L. Williams. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American Singer-songwriter and actress. He also sang with U2, in the band's 1995 song Miss Sarajevo. " Miss Sarajevo " is the only single from the 1995 album Original Soundtracks 1 by U2 and Brian Eno, under the Pseudonym Passengers

In 1998, Pavarotti was presented with the Grammy Legend Award. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The GRAMMY Legend Award is a special Grammy Award, awarded on special occasions not necessarily every year Given only on special occasions, as of 2007 it has only been awarded 15 times since its first presentation in 1990. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

2000s

In 2002, Pavarotti split with his manager of 36 years Herbert Breslin. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Herbert Breslin is a music industry executive He has been influential in the careers of several musicians since the 1960s the foremost of these being the Tenor Luciano The breakup, which was acrimonious, was followed in 2004 with the publication of Breslin's book, The King & I,^[14] seen by many as sensationalist and largely critical of the singer's acting (in opera), his inability to read music and learn parts, and of his personal conduct, although acknowledging their mutual success. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " In an interview in 2005 with Jeremy Paxman on the BBC, Pavarotti rejected the allegation that he could not read music, although acknowledging he sometimes had difficulty following orchestral parts. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jeremy Dixon Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is an English Journalist, Author and Television presenter.

He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2001. The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to artists in the performing arts He also holds two Guinness World Records: one for receiving the most curtain calls (165) and another for the best-selling classical album (In Concert by The Three Tenors). Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U A curtain call (walkdown bow occurs at the end of a performance when individuals return to the stage to be recognized by the audience for their performance The dates of the Classical period in Western music are generally accepted as 1750 to 1810 The Three Tenors is a name given to a consort of singers who held concerts under this banner during the 1990s and early 2000s Spaniards Plácido Domingo (The latter record is thus shared by fellow tenors, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> José Plácido Domingo Embil KBE (born January 21, 1941) better WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Josep Carreras i Coll (born December 5, 1946, Barcelona )

In late 2003, he released his final compilation, Ti Adoro, where Pavarotti sings in more of a "popera" style. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Operatic pop is a subgenre of Pop music that is performed in a classical operatic style Most of the 13 songs were written and produced by the Michele Centonze who had already helped produce the "Pavarotti and Friends" concerts between 1998 - 2000. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The tenor described the album as a wedding gift to Nicoletta Mantovani.

On 13 December 2003 he married his former personal assistant, Nicoletta Mantovani, with whom he already had a daughter, Alice. Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes. Thank you--> Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI ( October 12, ^[15] He started his farewell tour in 2004, at the age of 69, performing one last time in old and new locations, after over four decades on the stage. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Pavarotti gave his last performance in an opera at the New York Metropolitan Opera on March 13, 2004 for which he received a 12-minute standing ovation for his role as the painter Mario Cavaradossi in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca. The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880 is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini ( December 22, 1858 Tosca is an Opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on On December 1, 2004, he announced a 40-city farewell tour to be produced by Harvey Goldsmith. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Harvey Goldsmith CBE (b 4 March, 1946 in Edgware, London, England) was the co–organiser together with Bob Geldof

In March 2005, Pavarotti underwent neck surgery to repair two vertebrae. March 2005: ← - January 2005 - February 2005 - March - April 2005 - May 2005 - June 2005 - July 2005 A vertebra (plural vertebrae) is an individual Irregular bone in the spinal or Vertebral column ( aka ischis a flexuous and flexible column

In early 2006, he had back surgery and contracted an infection while in the hospital, forcing cancellation of concerts in the U. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. An infection is the detrimental Colonization of a host Organism by a foreign Species. S. , Canada and the UK. ^[16]

On February 10, 2006, Pavarotti sang "Nessun Dorma" at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Turin, Italy at his final performance. Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Nessun dorma (English edition None shall sleep tonight) is an Aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini 's Opera The Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics ( Torino 2006) was held on February 10, 2006 beginning at 2000 CET (1900 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The final act of the opening ceremony, his performance received the longest and loudest ovation of the night from the international crowd. Leone Magiera, who directed the performance, revealed in his 2008 memoirs, Pavarotti Visto da Vicino, that the performance was prerecorded weeks earlier^[2]. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common "The orchestra pretended to play for the audience, I pretended to conduct and Luciano pretended to sing. The effect was wonderful," he wrote.

Death and family

While undertaking an international "farewell tour," Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2006. Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the Pancreas. Each year about 37680 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with this condition and 34290 July 2006 was a month with thirty-one days The following events also occurred during the month The tenor fought back against the implications of this diagnosis, undergoing major abdominal surgery and making plans for the resumption and conclusion of his singing commitments. ^[17] On September 6, 2007, however, in an e-mail statement, his manager, Terri Robson, wrote, "The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness. "^[18][19][20]

According to several reports, just before he died, the singer had received both the sacraments of reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick from the Roman Catholic Church. The confession of one's Sins is a religious practice important to many faiths e Anointing of the Sick is distinguished from other forms of religious Anointing or "unction" (an older term with the same meaning in that it is intended as its name ^[21]

Pavarotti's funeral was held in Modena Cathedral. Modena Cathedral, the cathedral or "Duomo" in Italian of Modena, Italy, is one of the most important Romanesque buildings of Europe ^[22] The Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival Hall flew black flags in mourning. The Vienna State Opera ( Wiener Staatsoper) located in Vienna, Austria, is one of the most important Opera houses - and opera companies - in The Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele is a prominent festival of Music and Drama. ^[23] Tributes were published by many opera houses, such as London's Royal Opera House. WikipediaWikiProject Opera --> The Royal Opera House is an Opera house and major performing ^[24] The Italian football giant Juventus F.C., of which Pavarotti was a life long fan, was represented at the funeral and posted a farewell message on its website which said: "Ciao Luciano, black-and-white heart" referring to the team's famous stripes when they play on their home ground. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered A tribute concert featuring many talents trained by Pavarotti himself was held on Valentine's Day 2008 at New York City's Avery Fisher Hall. ^[25]

Pavarotti is survived by four daughters: three, Lorenza, Cristina and Giuliana with first wife Adua, to whom he was married for 34 years; and one, Alice, with second wife Nicoletta Mantovani. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes. Thank you--> Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI ( October 12, At the time of his death, he had one granddaughter. His first will was opened the day after his death and a second will, within the same month of September. In Common law, a will or testament is a document by which a person (the Testator) regulates the rights of others over his or her Property ^[26] His fortune was estimated to be roughly between 20-120 million United States dollars with about 20m in the U. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been S. and included an estate outside his native Modena, a villa in Pesaro, an apartment in Monte Carlo and three apartments in New York City. Pesaro is a town and Comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. Monte-Carlo ( Occitan: Montcarles, Monégasque: Monte-Carlu) is one of Monaco 's various administrative areas sometimes erroneously The City of New York ^[27]

Shortly after his death, on what would have been Pavarotti's 72nd birthday, Google exhibited a logo using a cartoon of Pavarotti as the letter l in its name. Google Inc is an American public corporation, earning revenue from advertising related to its Internet search, e-mail, online

The Ultimate Collection CD of 20 well known arias associated with Pavarotti was released shortly after his death and it was created as a tribute to Pavarotti titled "Pavarotti Forever". The Ultimate Collection is a greatest hits Compilation album released by Italian opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti. A Compact Disc (also known as a CD) is an Optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio

Here is a recording excerpt illustrating the 9 high C's for which Pavarotti was famous:

Quote

Pavarotti himself summarized his life as follows: "Penso che una vita per la musica sia una vita spesa bene ed è a questo che mi sono dedicato. " (English translation: "I think a life in music is a life well spent, and this is what I have devoted myself to. ") [1]

Other work

Film and television

Pavarotti's one venture into film, a romantic comedy called Yes, Giorgio (1982), was roundly panned by the critics. Yes Giorgio is a 1982 musical/comedy starring Luciano Pavarotti. He can be seen to better advantage in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's adaptation of Rigoletto for television, released that same year, or in his more than 20 live opera performances taped for television between 1978 and 1994, most of them with the Metropolitan Opera, and most available on DVD. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle ( 19 February 1932 - 11 August 1988) was a French Opera director who was born in Paris. Rigoletto is an Opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian Libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880 is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is

Humanitarian

Pavarotti annually hosted the "Pavarotti and Friends" charity concerts in his home town of Modena in Italy, joining with singers from all parts of the music industry, including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Bono, Sheryl Crow and Jon Bon Jovi, to raise money for several UN causes. Modena (ˈmɔːdena Mòdna in Modenese dialect is a city and a Comune ( Municipality) on the south side of the Po valley, in the Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951) better known by his Stage name Sting, is a three time Academy Award Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American Singer-songwriter and Musician. Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi Jr on March 2 1962 is an American Musician, Songwriter and Actor. Concerts were held for War Child, and victims of war and civil unrest in Bosnia, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Iraq. For other uses see War Child (disambiguation War Child is a non-governmental organization founded by British filmmakers Bill Leeson Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Latin script: Bosna i Hercegovina, Cyrillic script: Босна и Херцеговина is a country on the Balkan Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. After the war in Bosnia, he financed and established the Pavarotti Music Center in the southern city of Mostar to offer Bosnia's artists the opportunity to develop their skills. Demographics 1971 Croats - 37782 (396% Bosniaks ( ie Bosnian Muslims - 33645 (36 For these contributions, the city of Sarajevo named him an honorary citizen in 2006. TemplateInfobox City for more fields--> Sarajevo is the Capital city and largest urban center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with ^[28]

He performed at benefit concerts to raise money for victims of tragedies such as the Spitak earthquake that killed 25,000 people in northern Armenia in December 1988. A benefit concert is a Concert, show or gala featuring musicians comedians or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose often directed at a specific The Spitak Earthquake (also called Leninakan Earthquake and Gyumri Earthquake) was a tremor with a Magnitude of 6 Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani ^[29]

He was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales. They raised money for the elimination of land mines worldwide. A land mine is an Explosive device designed to be placed on or in the ground to explode when triggered by an operator or the Proximity of a vehicle person He was invited to sing at her funeral service, but declined, as he felt he could not sing well "with his grief in his throat". Nonetheless, he attended the service.

In 1998, he was appointed the United Nation's Messenger of Peace, using his fame to raise awareness of UN issues, including the Millennium Development Goals, HIV/AIDS, child rights, urban slums and poverty. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Children's rights are the Human rights of Children with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to the young including their A slum, as defined by the United Nations agency UN-HABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure security Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life including food clothing shelter and safe Drinking water, and ^[30]

In 1999, Pavarotti performed a charity benefit concert in Beirut, to mark Lebanon's reemergence on the world stage after a brutal 15 year civil war. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Beirut (بيروت Bayrūt) is the Capital and Largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2 Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990 was a multifaceted Civil war whose antecedents can be traced back to the conflicts and political compromises reached after the end The largest concert held in Beirut since the end of the war, it was attended by 20,000 people who traveled from countries as distant as Saudi Arabia and Bulgaria. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian ^[31]

In 2001, Pavarotti received the Nansen Medal from the UN High Commission for Refugees for his efforts raising money on behalf of refugees worldwide. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Nansen Refugee Award formerly known as the Nansen Medal is given annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to individuals or groups in recognition Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR (established December 14, 1950) is a According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race Through benefit concerts and volunteer work, he has raised more than any other individual. ^[32]

In 1978 Pavarotti was initiated as an honorary member of the University of Miami's Beta Tau Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a fraternity dedicated to the advancement of music in America. Phi Mu Alpha (ΦΜΑ Sinfonia is a collegiate social fraternity for men with an interest in music Other honors he received include the "Freedom of London Award" and The Red Cross "Award for Services to Humanity", for his work in raising money for that organization, and the 1998 "MusiCares Person Of The Year", given to humanitarian heroes by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an International humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers worldwide who stated The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Inc is known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS. ^[33][34]

See also

• Best selling music artists — World's top-selling music artists chart. When adding to this page please ensure that your claims are sourced

Notes and references

External links

• Official website
• Luciano Pavarotti at the Internet Movie Database
• Discography at Discogs.com
• Discography (Capon's Lists of Opera Recordings)
• Luciano Pavarotti discography at MusicBrainz
• Review of The King and I at Bookreporter.com
• The Times obituary
• Review of The King and I at theage.com.au
• Signature of Luciano Pavarotti
• Pavarotti Unparalleled by Ana Elsner. Discogs, short for discographies, is a Website and Database of information about Music Recordings including commercial releases promotional MusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an Open content Music database Hear him sing Nessun Dorma (via THIN AIR)
• Luciano Pavarotti, Opera Tenor Site
• Luciano Pavarotti- Obituary and Public Tribute
• The Pavarotti Story
• Pavarotti Video Biography by National Italian American Foundation NIAF