From U2 to the Olympics: Pavarotti, brought opera to generations of new fans
By Jeffrey Jolson
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 9/5/07 – Italy, and the world’s classical music fans, are on watch as the health of the world’s most famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, has seriously deteriorated. He is suffering from cancer-related kidney problems and losing consciousness, according to reports from his home in Modena, Italy.
Pavarotti has sold over 100 million albums and could sell out stadiums, alone and as part of the Three Tenors, with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. Besides his revered classical output, he brought opera to younger fans and the word “popera” into wide use. He performed with the top orchestras as well as U2 and from “Saturday Night Live” to the Olympic Games.
He had and operation for pancreas cancer in July and was hospitalized on Aug. 8 in Modena with a fever. He was discharged on Aug. 25 after diagnostic tests were completed.
TV station E’ TV Antenna-1 in Modena reported that the tenor had lost consciousness and was suffering from kidney problems at the Modena home where he has been recovering following a hospital stay.
The ANSA news agency, citing medical sources, said Pavarotti was believed to have lost consciousness for brief moments in recent days. The AGI news agency said Pavarotti was in “very serious condition.” It didn’t name its sources. Sky TG 24 reported “Luciano Pavarotti’s condition has worsened,” without providing further details.
Hailed as one of the greatest tenors of his generation, Pavarotti since surgery for pancreatic cancer more than a year ago and he has since had at least five rounds of chemotherapy.
Following his surgery Pavarotti cancelled subsequent concerts, sparking fears that he may never perform in public again. He was forced to abandon a 40-concert farewell tour that began in May 2004.
This summer his wife said that Pavarotti had been feeling well and was preparing a new album.
“We can never be sure with this illness, but I think that Luciano will pull through,” she said. “He is doing well. He is finishing the fifth chemotherapy cycle. He has not lost a hair and he hasn’t lost weight.”
The same day, July 10, Pavarotti called the ceremony’s organizers and concluded by saying he was preparing another “Pavarotti & Friends” album.
Just this week, Pavarotti had expressed his “emotion” following the establishment of a “cultural excellence” prize in Italy that he had been the first to receive. He said he was “full of emotion and gratitude … because it gives me the opportunity to continue to celebrate the magic of a life spent in service of art.”
He shock purists with his appearances in live concerts, sometimes alongside pop musicians. In 1991 a crowd of 150,000, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, braved the rain and cold in London’s Hyde Park to hear him sing.
Pavarotti broke into the world of opera when he won the top prize in a competition in 1961, for which he was rewarded with the role of Rodolphe in Puccini’s “La Boheme” in nearby Reggio Emilia.
It was with Sutherland in February 1972 that Pavarotti truly came of age, taking Covent Garden and the New York Metropolitan Opera by storm with a sparkling production of Donizetti’s “La Fille du Regiment”.