Ciao, Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti, one of the greatest musicians ever to take the stage, has died. He was 71 and succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

I do not think that history will remember Pavarotti as the supreme tenor of modern times – that honor will likely belong to Mario Lanza or Enrico Caruso. I am certain, though, that Pavarotti will be remembered as the man who ensured that classical vocal music remained part of our popular culture. His work with the Three Tenors as well as his collaborations with John Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown kept the music he loved in plain view of the world.

And it’s clear the world loved him for it.

He was far from a perfect man. His flaws were obvious and his scandals received more than their share of press attention as this obituary ably recounts. But you don’t have to be a perfect man to project the passion for music that Pavarotti possessed. You just have to love and respect the music you perform. He did that as well as anyone who has ever performed.

After the jump is video of an amazing performance of Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s opera Turandot. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a performance with as much passion and intensity as you will see in those few minutes of singing.

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Category: Music