Luciano Pavarotti is dead at 71:
Famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who appeared on stage with singers as varied as opera star Dame Joan Sutherland, U2’s Bono and Liza Minnelli, died Thursday in Italy after suffering from pancreatic cancer, manager Terri Robson said in a statement. He was 71.
“The great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, died today at 5:00 a.m. at his home in Modena, the city of his birth,” according to Robson.
“The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness.”
The portly singer retired from staged opera in 2004, but was on a “farewell tour” of concerts when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006 and underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor.
I guess I am somewhat of an accidental Pavarotti fan- growing up, my mother used to play opera almost all day, every day, from her record player in the hallway downstairs. Pavarotti was one of her favorites- so much so that after watching several tributes on television to the man, I have recognized all of the music. One of her favorites, if I remember correctly, is Pavarotti playing the villanous Duke in Rigoletto.
You don’t have to be an opera fan to recognize his greatness- you only have to hear Pavarotti once to recognize how his voice filled the room and made people happy. And now, that voice is gone, as is another part of my childhood.
RIP, Luciano Pavarotti. Thanks.