Luciano Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti , 1935-2007, Italian tenor. He made his debut in Italy in 1961, in London in 1963, and in the United States in 1965. He appeared regularly at New York's Metropolitan Opera from 1968 to 2004. A popular favorite, Pavarotti was noted for the rich and ringing clarity of his lyric tenor voice as well as for his immense personal charm. His brilliance and style were particularly notable in his performances of works by Bellini , Donizetti , Puccini , and Verdi . During his later career he frequently sang for huge audiences in stadiums and other large venues, and also appeared on television. In the 1980s he reached an enormous public through the Three Tenor concerts and recordings, in which he was joined by Placido Domingo and José Carreras. In the 1990s he participated in numerous charity concerts, often sharing the bill with rock stars.

Bibliography: See his autobiographies (with W. Wright, 1981 and 1995).

Pavarotti, Luciano (1935– ) Italian tenor. He made his operatic debut, as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème, in 1961. He made his US début in 1968. His rich voice is well suited to the Italian repertoire and Mozart. Internationally famous, he later formed part of the popular concert in Rome called The Three Tenors, along with José Carreras and Plácido Domingo.