The Citiblog

Remembering Pavarotti
September 6, 2007, 10:35.20 pm ET

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Luciano Pavarotti, the world famous tenor who brought opera to the masses, has died in Italy from pacreatic cancer. He was 71.



The Metropolitan Opera issued this statement:

News of the death of Luciano Pavarotti was met with profound sadness today by the management, staff, and artistic company of the Metropolitan Opera, where the great Italian tenor sang 378 performances, more than anywhere else in the world. Pavarotti made his Metropolitan Opera debut on November 23, 1968 as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème, and sang his farewell performance on March 13, 2004 as Mario Cavaradossi in the same composer’s Tosca.

Music Director James Levine, who collaborated with Mr. Pavarotti in 139 performances at the Met beginning in 1973, said, “Few singers in the history of the Metropolitan Opera have had the popularity with the general public and the enormous impact that Luciano Pavarotti had during his 36-year career with the company. Luciano’s voice was so extraordinarily beautiful and his delivery so natural and direct that his singing spoke right to the hearts of listeners whether they knew anything about opera or not. I will never forget the sheer magic of that voice, but I will also remember the warm, generous, and exuberant spirit of the man. He is, rightfully, a legend already – an artist whose recordings will be a reference for singers and opera lovers for a long time to come.”

“In the larger than life world of grand opera, Luciano Pavarotti was its greatest symbol, captivating millions with his performances from the Met and elsewhere,” said Peter Gelb, the Met’s General Manager. “Pavarotti’s golden voice shall resonate within the Met for as long as it stands.”


The Met is honoring Pavarotti with a special exhibition at Founders Hall on September 24th. An 8-opera tribute will also run on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 85, at 9pm each night.

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