Ahhh, Pavarotti is gone. I'm so glad I got to see the Three Tenors concert live when they toured it here to Dodger Stadium in L.A. The repertoire was pretty silly, but those voices - !
I always felt that Pavarotti had the same relationship to opera that Emeril Lagasse has to New Orleans - a cross between great artiste and clown; one hopping around the kitchen shouting "BAM!" into the TV cameras and opening a series of Louisiana-themed restaurants, the other waving his white hankie into the TV cameras and singing snipped-off gobbets of "Opera's Greatest Hits" in the company of various pop stars. But the results were the same: each opened up a greater awareness (of New Orleans food, culture and music, and of opera) to the widest possible audience. But oh dear, I can't forget that *awful* movie Pavarotti made, playing (of all things) a temperamental opera singer, and having a food fight, flinging spaghetti all over the room. What do you bet it comes out on DVD before he's in his grave?
Well, ciao bravo, Luciano, and I hope you and Beverly Sills are having some great duets in heaven.