Presence Bigger Than Life

Luciano Pavarotti was bigger than life with his music. He brought opera music to the world’s biggest public venues from the ruins of the Roman Empire to the green trees of Central Park. From San Francisco to Sydney, Manila to Milan, people in gowns and tailcoats or T-shirts and jeans were awed by his voice and bigger than life presence.

He voice blended beautifully with many of the world’s biggest musical artists. Bono. Elton John. Stevie Wonder. Sting. Even the Spice Girls. His voice is immediately recognizable, a warm Italian diction like no other, with beauty of tone, color and heft.

Pavarotti died Thursday at age 71 at his home in Modena, in Northern Italy.

He first gained great fame as Tonio in Donizetti's "La Fille du Regiment," tossing off the famous nine high Cs of "Ah, mes amis" with startling ease.

In the annals of music, he joined Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Mario Del Monaco and Franco Corelli as Italian tenors of the highest rank.

Some of his repertoire choices, especially at Three Tenors concerts, were unfortunate. He even sung "Moon River" and "My Way" while Frank Sinatra was in the audience at Dodger Stadium in 1994.

Pavarotti extended his presence far beyond the limits of Italian opera. He became an icon in music pop culture. Millions appreciated his personality, charm and generosity.

By the 1980s he expanded his franchise and worked and shared the stage with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras as the Three Tenors. It started with the concerts associated with the World Cup. I remember seeing those World Cup plugs on TV. Eventually, the trio travelled around the world bringing opera music to millions.

At the Met on March 13, 2004, he received a 15-minute standing ovation and 10 curtain calls. He sang 379 performances at the Met, of which 357 were in fully staged opera productions.

Luciano Pavarotti was born in Modena, Italy, on Oct. 12, 1935. His father was a baker and an amateur tenor while his mother worked at a cigar factory. Early in his life, he listened to opera recordings.

“I’m not a politician, I’m a musician,” he told the BBC Music Magazine in an April 1998 article about his efforts for Bosnia. “I care about giving people a place where they can go to enjoy themselves and to begin to live again. To the man you have to give the spirit, and when you give him the spirit, you have done everything.”

Guess, I will keep that “Best of Opera Music” CD in the car so that Pavarotti will continue to make his presence felt in our lives.