Luciano Pavarotti was born in Modena, Italy, in 1935. His debut was as Rodolfo in Puccini's La BohËme, a part for which his beautiful, lyrical, Italianiate voice was ideally suited. It became his 'visiting card' in dÈbuts worldwide.
He quickly built up a large repertoire, particularly of the Italian lyric parts. At Glyndebourne in 1964 he was an exemplary Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo and, some twenty five years later sang that operaís title rÙle at the The Met. Among the many marvels of his singing are the ease with which he dealt with the string of high Cs in Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment.
Now in the 1980s and 90s his voice has developed even greater strength and a slightly darker quality, leading him to take on some of the more heroic rÙles. He has even sung the role of
Verdi's Otello in a series of concerts which have been committed to disc.
His success in concerts with the lighter song repertory, - particularly those of 'The Three Tenors', with Domingo and Carreras - has led to an almost pop-star following. With its sweetness, clarity and freedom, allied to wonderful diction, he has one of the tenor voices of the century.
