He has been called home at last. Bravissimo, Luciano Pavarotti, here is a final endless standing ovation. I hope many of you have some personal memories.

I hated hearing this this morning. His voice lives on in his recordings but what a loss not to be able to see him perform again.

All I know about Opera , I learned from him, from his voice, from his joy of living, from his love to his work...I couldn't see him performing live but what I've learnt will stay with me ..forever. Thank you , Maestro !!

We had the great privilage to see Luciano Pavarotti in 1992 perform live with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in Atlantic City. His La donna mobille (spelling?)was unbelievable and still brings goose bumps to us when we play his record of it. Farewell and God speed Mr.Pavarotti you will be missed.

We took our (then) very young son to the Metroplitan Opera House in NY to hear Pavarotti sing.
I think I cried through the entire thing lol (and it is not a sad opera ) ....as wonderful as he sounded in recordings, to be in the same room with that voice was breathtaking. It was L'Elisir d'Amore.. that is the way I will picure Luciano Pavorotti from now on ~

I was so fortunate to hear him both at the Met in New York and at a concert in Central Park once. It was just unforgettable to hear his voice outdoors under the night sky. I don't remember any of those occasions which didn't bring tears to my eyes! He had such a huge gift for music and enjoyment of life!
I heard one newscaster this morning tell a funny story about him, once when he was seated next to Princess Diana at a State dinner, he was overheard to say to her "Do you want the rest of those shrimps? Because if you don't, I'll take them...." I love that.

To us non-opera buffs at the time (well, I'm still a novice) it was Nessun Dorma at Italia 90 (World Cup) that did it.

It was used as the music over opening credits for coverage on British TV. Was it the Beeb, probably not, anyway not relevant.

So since then I have been to opera performed live in London and Sydney. And the more I go, the more I like it. But jeez it's expensive unless it's Opera in the Domain.

But what his death reminds me of most is the day I heard that Rudolf Nureyev had gone.

Both brilliant, unsurpassable artists.

Thank you Luciano.

And thank you, still, Rudi, after all these years.

I was glad that even my 11 year old remembered hearing him sing at the last Olympics. Nice that even she will have a Pavarotti memory.

I am laughing at that shrimp incident because I had dinner with Mr. Pavarotti at the apartment of my friend, Michael, in Manhattan. I was just a teenager at the time as Michael was a classmate of mine from school. Of course, when you are a teenager what do you discuss with Luciano Pavorotti? We talked about food, movies, gossip. (He never once talked about opera unless it dealt with backstage gossip.) He was very funny, but underneath he seemed sad, contemplative.

Mr. Pavorotti ate so much that I thought Michael's mother was going to have to send for take-out. He also had a lusty appetite for women because he looked at Michael's married sister the way a German Shepard looks at a plate of raw meat.

Thin

The World lost a great tenor, a flamboyant, greater than Life Usignolo( Nightndale), that with his Charm , his Karma and radiant smile, was able to make opera very popular for everyone.

Another Star is shining in the Firmament.
Ciao Luciano, May You Rest in Peace.

If you have a chance secure his recordings from 30 years ago or more. It was a purer voice.

He did make opera accessible to many.

We met Pavarotti after a San Francisco Opera recital; he signed a photo for us. I'll always remember the sweetness in his voice--always instantly recognizable and thrilling. If I could go back in time for one opera performance it would be the Pavarotti/Caballe "Turandot."

1972 The Daughter of the Regiment at the Met. Nine high C's.... will never forget it.
My favorite Turandot was Nilsson and Corelli. (So I'm old! But at least I have a lot of great memories -

How lucky you were to have heard Nilsson in Turandot! And to have seen Corelli on stage, too. I can counter with Bjorling in Aida, however.

Underhill..... I repeat: How OLD are you ?? -

Moi? Old enough to know better! Let's put it this way...we began attending the opera in the mid 70's.
Another clue: Rock around the Clock came out when I was in high school.

Do you remember Caruso???

Only from his recordings.

Caruso had a beautiful clear voice and sang like an Usignolo.

Years ago I saw a movie about his life with Mario Lanza

"al'alba vincero! vincero! vincero!"

Pavarotti, RIP!