2008 Woodie Awards
Opera singer remembered
By Vanessa M. Sanchez
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Premiere
Originally published: 9/20/07 at 5:45 PM CSTLast update: 9/23/07 at 12:01 PM CST
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More than 100,000 people gathered Sept. 8 to give one last standing ovation to opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, as his funeral was broadcast worldwide from his hometown of Modena, Italy.
Pavarotti died Sept. 6 from pancreatic cancer.
The son of a baker and amateur singer, Pavarotti grew up listening to opera learning to mimic the sounds he later used to shape opera, something other opera singers could not achieve.
Experts are calling him "the last of the greats." And according to news reports since his death, most of the music community considers him a legend.
Music Instructor Billy Craven calls him "the most celebrated tenor since Caruso," the early 19th century Italian tenor.
"Absolutely flawless," he continued saying, describing the "godlike voice" of Pavarotti.
"Pavarotti was huge. He had the power to sing anywhere at any time and have everyone wanting to be there,"said Craven, who teaches an opera workshop for music students each spring.
After the death of Beverly Sills, an American coloratura soprano who died of cancer July 2, Craven agrees with other experts that Pavarotti was "the last of the great Italian tenors in opera and the last great opera singer in general."
"Pavarotti tried to take opera to society," Craven continued.
He established a voice competition in Philadelphia in 1981 where young and talented singers auditioned for a spot in an opera performance with Pavarotti.
He was often quoted as saying "I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent."
He enjoyed the opportunity to teach. He gave lessons to soon-to-be opera singers and worked with pop stars.
"He collaborated with many pop performers and was what every singer still strives to become," Craven said. "He was the only opera singer to make music with performers of all genres ..." such as Celene Dion, James Brown, Barry White, rock bands Queen and U2, Ricky Martin, Meat Loaf, the Spice Girls and Elton John.
Pavarotti could be found smiling at the end of each performance.
He loved his life as a musician, telling BBC Music Magazine in April 1998, "I'm not a politician, I'm a musician. I care about giving people a place where they can go to enjoy themselves and to begin to live again."
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