![]() | davidcarrington: @ShethK If you know how to get Opera Mini to respect input lengths or use client side javascript then that would help. It's an odd browser about 16 minutes ago |
![]() | dustyhawk: @sotongzai you're using BB Internet Browser or Opera ? Opera should be able to about 52 minutes ago |
![]() | EscoTAE_CEO: @thecashleeshow Price for what dudette??? ELECTRIC OPERA or the BlackBerry BOLD??? Holla... about 2 hours ago |
![]() | gavinwray: Hope Firefox gets updated soon. This version is really clunky. No IE8, Safari, Chrome or Opera at work. about 2 hours ago |
| By Bobby Tanzilo Managing Editor E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Bobby Tanzilo |
| Published Sept. 6, 2007 at 7:29 a.m. |
|
Although I'm no connoisseur of opera, like anyone I know a great voice when I hear one and the loss of Luciano Pavarotti's tenor -- already legendary in his lifetime -- is a wound to the music world.
The singer died overnight at his Modena, Italy home. He was 71.
Pavarotti's battle with pancreatic cancer was no secret and he underwent surgery for it last year while in New York during a farewell tour.
I was lucky enough to see Pavarotti perform during one of his two Milwaukee concert performances. He performed twice in Milwaukee, and I heard him sing at the second one, in the cavernous MECCA Arena (now the U.S. Cellular Arena) in February 1992.
When I heard he was coming, I had to do, despite my paltry income as a part-time reporter at a daily paper. I bought two tickets and coaxed a friend into going. We didn't have great seats, but could see the heavy-set Pavarotti and his trademark hanky pretty well.
His voice echoed around the huge space, losing definition, but maintaining its passion as Pavarotti sang a crowd-pleasing mix of arias and Neapolitan songs. It was likely the kind of show that makes opera purists shudder, but there were thousands of appreciative listeners on hand.
Five years later, spending a night in Modena, I sort of hoped to catch a glimpse of the singer zipping through the piazza in a Ferrari, but it didn't happen.
When I heard yesterday that Pavarotti's condition was worsening rapidly and that he was surrounded at home by friends and family, I already felt a sense of loss for the music world-- Pavarotti was an eager champion of young singers -- but I was happy to know that he and I were once in the same room together -- albeit a very, very large room.
|
2 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Posted by Opera Man on Sept. 7, 2007 at 7:56 a.m. (report)
I saw the Journal's obit on Pavarotti and they had one line just mentioning that he sang here. But the obit came from Associated Press. So, no one at the paper here even wrote about it as far as I can tell.
| Rate this: |
Posted by hardgeminiguy on Sept. 6, 2007 at 7:22 p.m. (report)
i am pleased that you mentioned his milwaukee appearances--the journal/sentinel sure has not--they continue their policy--less is more--forget the local news. thank--you--jerry johnson
| Rate this: |
|
Monday Watching me decorate for the holidays is nothing like watching Chevy Chase do it on the ... |
|
Nov. 19, 2009 Last night, I experienced the second of two rehearsal dinners at Ristorante Bartolotta ... |
|
Nov. 16, 2009 Like many homes, ours chimes with the sound of countless readings of "If You Give a Mouse ... |
|
Nov. 11, 2009 Last night I tweeted from the first installment of The Pasta Tree's proposed 20-dinner ... |
|
Nov. 10, 2009 With the economic downturn it seemed safe to assume that there would be casualties among ... |
| Top Clicks | Top Searches | Most Talkbacks |