Goodbye, Maestro

How can the human heart not respond to this? Kills me every time.

Luciano Pavarotti, Italian Tenor, Is Dead at 71.

Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian singer whose ringing, pristine sound set a standard for operatic tenors of the postwar era, died early this morning at his home in Modena, in northern Italy. He was 71.

[snip]

Mr. Pavarotti remained a darling of Met audiences until his retirement from that company’s roster in 2004, an occasion celebrated with a string of “Tosca” performances. At the last of them, on March 13, 2004, he received a 15-minute standing ovation and 10 curtain calls. All told, he sang 379 performances at the Met, of which 357 were in fully staged opera productions. In the late 1960s and 70s, when Mr. Pavarotti was at his best, he possessed a sound remarkable for its ability to penetrate large spaces easily. Yet he was able to encase that powerful sound in elegant, brilliant colors. His recordings of the Donizetti repertory are still models of natural grace and pristine sound. The clear Italian diction and his understanding of the emotional power of words in music were exemplary.

And he had such a sweet face. If the Maestro felt one millionth of the happiness he gave to others, he'll have lived well.

Comments

[handdrummer]

Ahh he sang so wonderfully it almost made me proud to be human.

Check out the YouTube of his duet with Barry White. The childlike look of delight he has on his face as they walk out on stage says everything about his soul.

[Rosie]

I missed this bit of sad news. I'm really heartbroken that he's gone. He was such an amazing tenor...he'll always be one of the greatest.