# Luciano Pavarotti Dead at 71 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215 "2007-09-06T05:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/1 "2007-09-06T05:09:26Z")
I don’t see an online link yet, but BBC Television just announced the death of Luciano Pavarotti, aged 71. He gave a big concert at Angkor Wat in Cambodia a few years ago. I wish we had gone to see that. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/2 "2007-09-06T05:12:12Z")
The Sydney Morning Herald is carrying the story of his death: [link](http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/pavarotti-dead-at-71-manager/2007/09/06/1188783353910.html) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/3 "2007-09-06T05:14:09Z")
Beautiful voice, he will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Marathon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/4 "2007-09-06T05:34:37Z")
Huh. I thought initially it was ten years exact, but it turns out to be ten years plus one day after his colleague and friend, Sir Georg Solti, died (9/5/97). We’re lucky to have many great Pavarotti performances recorded in good sound. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Wing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/51bf81/32.png) [@Little\_Wing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Wing)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/5 "2007-09-06T05:36:04Z")
Even though I know next to nothing about opera and I just recently started listening to clips of him on YouTube, this news brings tears to my eyes, just as his singing did. He’ll be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/6 "2007-09-06T05:56:04Z")
Thank god it wasn’t the other guy! ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/7 "2007-09-06T06:58:45Z")
DAMMIT!! Another celebrity who is NOT on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/8 "2007-09-06T07:13:42Z")
And not to malign the dead, _but_… another celebrity who fathers kids when he’s over 65 and kicks out when they’re in pre-school. Such an irritating thing for vain rich old men to do. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/9 "2007-09-06T07:27:43Z")
I just watched it again the other night. I can’t help but recall the scene from the Hunt for Red October > [@](#): > > [telling young Sonarman Beaumont about Jones’s most embarrassing moment] > Watson: Seaman Jones here is into music in a big way, and he views this whole boat as his own personal, private stereo set. Well, one day he’s got this piece of Pavarotti… > Seaman Jones: It was Paganini. > Watson: Whatever. > Seaman Jones: It was Paganini. > Watson: Look, this is my story, okay? > Seaman Jones: Then tell it right, COB. Pavarotti is a tenor, Paganini was a composer. > Watson: So anyway, he’s got this music out in the water, and he’s listening to it on his headsets, and he’s just happy as a clam. And then all hell breaks loose. See, there’s this whole slew of boats out in the water… > Seaman Jones: Including one WAY out at Pearl! > Watson: Including one way the hell out at Pearl. All of a sudden, they start hearing, Pavarotti… > Beaumont: Pavarotti! > Watson: Coming up their asses! A great voice, he will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/10 "2007-09-06T07:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] I just watched it again the other night. I can’t help but recall the scene from the Hunt for Red OctoberA great voice, he will be missed. [/QUOTE] There was something similar last year with Kevin Federline singing something about the Pavarotti chasing him (rather than paparazzi, but it gives a more interesting visual). ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/11 "2007-09-06T07:51:27Z")
excerpt _“Nessun dorma”_ from Puccini’s **Turandot** , Act III, Scene 1: tenor: “Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All’ alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!” **(“Depart, oh night! Set, you stars! Set, you stars! At dawn I shall win! I shall win! I shall win!”)** la folla: “sole! Vita! Eternità! Luce del mondo e amore! Ride e canta Nel sole l’infinità nostra felicità! Gloria! Gloria a te!” **(the crowd: “O Sun! Life! Eternity! Light of the world and love! Laugh and sing In the sun of our infinite happiness! Glory! Glory to you!”)** He will be remembered as the greatest tenor of the Twentieth Century. I would like to hear a vocalist’s opinion as to what his finest recording is. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/12 "2007-09-06T07:53:08Z")
I love opera. I don’t know a damn thing about opera, mind you, but I love it. The soaring voices, the passion, the emotion…it all reaches me on a visceral level. I literally break down and cry, actually cry, tears running down my face, when listening to opera. It’s just so beautiful. Godspeed Luciano, and thank you, thank you so very, very much. You have enriched my life. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/13 "2007-09-06T07:59:25Z")
Hey Zoe! [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaufjDVYivc) You’re welcome. I’m crying now, for what we have lost. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/14 "2007-09-06T11:48:09Z")
At least we still have Paul Potts. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/15 "2007-09-06T11:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] At least we still have Paul Potts. [/QUOTE] Now _I’m_ crying. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/16 "2007-09-06T12:01:29Z")
[Elephants, yeah!](http://www.rathergood.com/elephants/) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/17 "2007-09-06T13:16:31Z")
Crap. I mean, I’ll admit to preferring Domingo’s voice–smaller range but velvety smooth–but Pavarotti was the face of opera for so many, kind of a gateway drug. He was a great singer. If you need me, I’ll be driving around aimlessly listening to “La Boheme.” ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/18 "2007-09-06T13:21:02Z")
::gasp:: those last few moments of Nessun Dorma are a goosebumpyspinetingler at the best of times, but today… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/19 "2007-09-06T13:28:19Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] He will be remembered as the greatest tenor of the Twentieth Century. I would like to hear a vocalist’s opinion as to what his finest recording is. [/QUOTE] I know it’s overplayed, but I honestly love his “Nessun dorma” the most. He does great bel canto stuff, his _Boheme_ is well known, but nobody – and I mean nobody – can beat his rendition of this _Turandot_ aria, imo (even if the role itself is really not his Fach). I prefer Domingo usually, and Heppner has a special place in my heart, but there are a few select songs and arias that Pavarotti really rocks. I love his Neapolitan folk songs, too. When I heard he died this morning I burst into tears. Thank god I didn’t drive off the road! His death marks the end of an era. The man was iconic. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215/20 "2007-09-06T13:28:54Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] He will be remembered as the greatest tenor of the Twentieth Century. I would like to hear a vocalist’s opinion as to what his finest recording is. [/QUOTE] Of those I’ve heard, I’d go with the Karajan _Bohéme_. The Bonynge _Rigoletto_ is also very good, but marred in my opinion by Pavarotti attempting a couple of high notes that were neither necessary nor really in his range. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luciano-pavarotti-dead-at-71/418215.md?page=2)