Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Opera World Mourns 'King of the High Cs'

Pavarotti's legacy: That unforgettable, unmistakable sound

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 6, 2007 8:05 AM CDT

(Newser) – Placido Domingo is the better musician, but no other voice could match the late Luciano Pavarotti's, Anthony Tommasini writes in today's Times. The music critic looks at a career dotted with highs as lofty as the high Cs Pavarotti "tossed off" with "ease, pinging tone and utter glee" and concludes his take on Pavarotti's "Nessun dorma" with an unapologetic "Wow!"

Amid praise for Pavarotti's "powerful instincts" and "gleaming upper range" is a note of realism. Tommasini also raises the question of whether Pavarotti pushed himself hard enough: "Ultimately, for all that Mr. Pavarotti gave to opera, it’s hard to avoid feeling that he never completely fulfilled his potential."

Luciano Pavarotti poses for a photograph in his dressing room after performing in Puccini's Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, on March 13, 2004. Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him one the most beloved tenors, has died, his manager told The Associated Press Thursday,...
Luciano Pavarotti poses for a photograph in his dressing room after performing in Puccini's "Tosca" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, on March 13, 2004. Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient...   (Associated Press)
Luciano Pavarotti, playing Nemorino, laughs during dress rehearsal for Act II of L'Elisir d'Amore, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in this Nov. 19, 1998, file photo. Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him one the most beloved tenors, has died, his manager told The Associated...
Luciano Pavarotti, playing Nemorino, laughs during dress rehearsal for Act II of "L'Elisir d'Amore," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in this Nov. 19, 1998, file photo. Pavarotti, whose vibrant...   (Associated Press)
Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti kisses the hand of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, following a gala performance of  L'elisir d'amore at the Royal Opera House in London in March 1990. Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him one the most beloved tenors, has died, his manager...
Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti kisses the hand of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, following a gala performance of "L'elisir d'amore" at the Royal Opera House in London in March 1990. Pavarotti,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Opera Legend Joan Sutherland Dead at 83

Thousands Pay Respects to Pavarotti

José Carreras Retires From Opera

High C is a Drink Best Served Bold

Tenor Luciano Pavarotti Dies


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne