Ciao Luciano R.I.P. !
Eleo

What an extraordinary voice this great tenor had. It is because of his sweet beautiful lyric operatic voice that I fell in love with opera, and I listened many, many minutes, hours, days, years until the voice has become a part of my life, and my world. He is without question the greatest voice in the musical world and in operatic history. Always we wil remember this extraordinary musical icon.

I first heard of the name Pavarotti long before I heard that marvelous instrument of glory. He set the standard of singing for nearly 4 decades, embracing all of us in that huge bear hug he always gave audiences around the world. He will always continue to be there, thanks to the records, tapes, cds and dvds but the world is much sadder without this great man who had so much warmth, dignity and humanity.

My father had come out to visit me in Los Angeles in the early 1990's. I knew he had been a huge Pavarotti fan ever since I could remember, but he never saw him perform in person. I really wanted to do something extremely special for him, something I knew he would never do for himself due to being brought up with that "Depression Era" mindset. Bringing him to see Pavarotti perform live would be the most sublime way of communicating to my father how much I appreciated him.

That warm evening literally under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl (which BTW, for an outside venue has unbelievable acoustics), seeing my father come to tears of joy as Luciano sang an Italian song is today my fondest memory of my father. He was compelled to explain that he had not heard that Italian folk song since his mother sang it to him as a child.

I was already a fervent classical music fan by then, but having grown up with my Italian speaking father constantly playing Pavarotti & Callas (between Copland pieces) in our home, I still never quite "got" opera. That evening under the stars in LA changed that forever. I was so moved by an aria he was singing I too discovered tears streaming down my own face. That exact moment and the exhilarating feeling I will never forget to this day. I went on to see 10's of operas at the Los Angeles Opera and now personally own over 100 operas.

While being one of the rare tenors able to perform the 9 high C's while performing Donizetti's La Fille Du Régiment, (to the opera uninitiated, this is a BIG DEAL), this became and is still one of my favorite recordings. Even my 7 year old daughter actually enjoys it too. If you are unfamiliar or curious as to what his high C's sound[ed] like, you can listen here for free: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHv_lZK0y2A (hit the PLAY button)

I somehow seemed to have tied so many of my memories of my father to his extreme sentiment for Luciano Pavarotti that today's news was a particular blow. Thank God (and/or the recording industry) that we were left with so many recordings of what may have been the best tenor that ever lived no matter what some critics say. They are 'critics' after all.

And a big "thanks" to Luciano Pavarotti for bringing opera to billions in only the way he could deliver it.

Luciano pararotti
was the greats siing in the world that has brougth to the music world
he love to sing any wear in the world
he love to come to austlia to perform for his fans
he had lot of fan around the world
bye Luciano Pavarotti your music will live on

You were a great man who had a heart of gold. Your music was inspiring and will live in our hearts forever. You will be sadly missed by your family, friends and the rest of the world.