The Legend Lives On - Legendary Tenor Luciano Pavarotti's 90th Birthday: A Look Back at His Opera Legacy
Legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti would have turned 90 on October 12. His powerful voice, compared to Enrico Caruso's, sold 50 million records and introduced opera to the masses through his theatrical performances.
Pavarotti's journey began in Modena, Italy, where he was born to Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and amateur tenor, and Adele, who worked in a tobacco factory. His professional debut came in 1961 at the opera house of Reggio nell'Emilia as Rodolfo in Puccini's 'La Bohème'.
He went on to perform at the world's most famous opera house, the Milan Scala, in 1967. Pavarotti's voice was lauded by Herbert von Karajan as 'a voice that comes along only once in a century'. His manager, Herbert Breslin, guided his world career for over 35 years, including his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1972.
Pavarotti's international breakthrough came during a tour of Australia in 1965, where he was discovered by world-class soprano Joan Sutherland and her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge. A monument stands in his honour in front of the opera house in his hometown Modena.
Pavarotti's legacy lives on, with his voice and performances continuing to inspire opera lovers worldwide. His 90th birthday serves as a reminder of his enduring impact on the art form.
