Luciano Pavarotti rose from humble beginnings to dominate the world of opera, with his extraordinary voice ringing out from every major concert hall in the world. To celebrate his legacy, we’ve laid out some of the key achievements from the maestro’s life, from his album releases and key performances to his off-stage triumphs.
Luciano Pavarotti rose from humble beginnings to dominate the world of opera, with his extraordinary voice ringing out from every major concert hall in the world. To celebrate his legacy, we’ve laid out some of the key achievements from the maestro’s life, from his album releases and key performances to his off-stage triumphs.
Luciano Pavarotti is born on October 12, 1935, on the outskirts of Modena, Italy. Despite his family’s humble circumstances, his father Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and amateur tenor, encourages his son to pursue his dream of being a professional singer.
Pavarotti works hard to fund his musical education – including six years spent as an insurance salesman.
Makes his first appearance as Rodolfo in La Bohème. It would go on to become one of Pavarotti’s most famous roles (others being Rigoletto, Tosca, Un Ballo as his personal key roles).
Makes his Covent Garden debut, replacing indisposed Giuseppe Di Stefano as Rodolfo.
Debuts at Glyndebourne as Idamante in Idomeneo.
Performs in the US for the first time, as a late replacement Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor opposite Joan Sutherland in Miami.
Stuns an audience in Covent Garden with nine consecutive high Cs in La fille du régiment. From then on Pavarotti is known as the King of the High Cs.
Makes his debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, playing Rodolfo.
Records Nessun Dorma from Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot. Despite the fact that Pavarotti had never performed the opera on stage, his version is heralded as the best ever recorded.
Attracts a huge TV audience in the first ‘Live from the Met’ telecast of La Bohème.
Pavarotti makes his first and only starring appearance in a feature film, the romantic comedy ‘Yes, Giorgio’.
Marks the 25th anniversary of the start of his career by performing to 10,000 people in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Receives 165 curtain calls and is applauded for one hour and seven minutes after singing the part of Nemorino in Gaetano Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Germany. It remains a Guinness World Record.
Pavarotti’s 1972 recording of Nessun Dorma is used as the theme tune for the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup bringing the tenor to an even wider audience.
Performs a free concert in London’s Hyde Park for 150,000, including Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Pavarotti performs to what is believed to be his largest ever audience at the ‘Pavarotti In The Park’ concert in Central Park. At the climax of his 130-minute set, the New York Parks Department estimated the crowd at 500,000, four times their initial predictions.
Becomes the first opera singer to appear on US TV show Saturday Night Live.
Pavarotti performs with the Spice Girls as part of his Pavarotti & Friends concert in his hometown of Modena. Ten Pavarotti & Friends were held between 1992 and 2003 with all the proceeds donated to humanitarian causes.
Pavarotti is awarded the prestigious Nansen Refugee Award by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in recognition of his incredible charity work. The singer helped raise more funds for the UN refugee agency’s work than any other private individual
Makes his last appearance in an opera playing Cavaradossi in Tosca at the Met.
Sings ‘Nessun Dorma’ at the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Turin – it will be his last public performance.
Luciano Pavarotti dies at his home in Modena on Thursday 6th September 2007. His last words are reported to be "I believe that a life lived for music is an existence spent wonderfully."