1972

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.

1982

Pavarotti makes his first and only starring appearance in a feature film, the romantic comedy ‘Yes, Giorgio’.

1990

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.

1993

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.

2001

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