Pavarotti, World-Renown Operatic Tenor, Dies at 71

Luciano Pavarotti, the world-renown Italian operatic tenor, has died today at his home in Modena, Italy.  He was 71 years old.

"The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life," his manager Terri Robson said in a statement.

A beloved face for all of classic music, Pavarotti took efforts throughout his life to bring music and song to the masses, not only starring in 378 performances (more than anywhere else in the world) but by also hosting several benefit concerts and television appearances.

Pavarotti made his Metropolitan Opera debut on November 23, 1968 as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème, and sang his farewell performance on March 13, 2004 as Mario Cavaradossi in the same composer's Tosca.

Early in his career, Pavarotti created a sensation in the role of Tonio in a new production of Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment opposite Australian soprano Joan Sutherland. His focus to serious opera accelerated his reputation and prestige as an incomparable singer, earning the nickname "King of the High C's," especially after hitting nine high C's in the aria "Ah, mes amis…Pour mon âme."  His performing career at The Met included 20 roles by the great Italian composers such as Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, and Bellini.

"When the Met launched its first regular series of televised performances in 1977, the inaugural opera was La Bohème, conducted by James Levine, with Pavarotti as Rodolfo and soprano Renata Scotto, another frequent onstage partner early in his career, as Mimì. He went on to sing in 21 Met telecasts, many of which are currently available on DVD. Pavarotti also made several recordings with Met, all conducted by Maestro Levine: La Traviata, Rigoletto, I Lombardi, L'Elisir d'Amore and Manon Lescaut," state press materials.

In 1978, Pavarotti made his first appearance as Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca at the Met, and later staged the role 60 times, his most frequent role. His second most-frequent role at the Met, with 49 performances, is perhaps his most well-known as Nemorino in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore. His repertoire in New York also includes 13 original production premieres, 48 radio broadcasts and three piano recitals, plus numerous galas and celebrations.

Always waving his signature white handkerchief, Pavarotti garnered more attention and appreciation in joining the legendary Three Tenors, with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, in world tours and international television broadcasts.  The Three Tenors have enjoyed enormous audiences and millions of records sold.

Pavarotti's reputation became more contemporary when he joined current music legends like Elton John, Bono and Sting in his charity concerts, "Pavarotti and Friends."

Metropolitan Opera on Sirius satellite radio, channel 85, will pay tribute to Pavarotti with eight consecutive evening broadcasts beginning tonight (September 6) at 9PM. The Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network will air a special re-broadcast on January 19, 2008 of La Bohème from 1977 with Pavarotti and Scotto, conducted by Levine.

Photo of Luciano Pavarotti by Francesco Scavullo