Pavarotti celebrates 40 yrs of singing

Modena, April 30: LEGENDARY Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti celebrated his 40th year in the business in grand style on Sunday at a concert in his home town of Modena featuring some of the world’s most famed opera singers.

His ‘‘Three Tenors’’ team-mate, Jose Carreras, was there, accompanied by a host of other operatic luminaries. But the third member of the trio, Placido Domingo, had to cancel at the last moment in order to undergo an operation.

Although the Maestro himself performed, singing from operatic favourites La Boheme and Aida, the concert was more of a homage to him by other singers.
‘‘Forty years is a long time and I celebrated in the best way,’’ Pavarotti told Reuters after the concert. ‘‘I am really very, very grateful. They showed me how much they loved me and how much they respect me.’’

Pavarotti received a standing ovation from the audience before he even started the concert marking his 40th year as an operatic performer since his debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme in the Italian city of Reggio Emilia. Pavarotti began his long musical career with the Modena city chorus, singing alongside his father.

Pavarotti junior was in relaxed mood at the final rehearsal, joking and laughing as he was put through his paces, dressed in his trademark colourful shirt and scarf. But 40 years may have taken their toll, for he sang only three pieces in the concert. His first real break came in 1963 when he sang for the first time at London’s Covent Garden, again as Rodolfo. Nine years later, the Pavarotti phenomenon was truly born when he performed in Donizetti’s La Fille Du Regiment at New York’s Metropolitan Opera to a rapturous audience.

Pavarotti is the most popular artist in the history of the classical recording industry and regularly fills arenas and other large spaces for his concerts.
But the Maestro’s singing has been criticised by experts, and the man once dubbed ‘‘The King of High C’s’’ for his extraordinary range, has on occasion failed to hit that note, once so effortless for him. (REUTERS)