His early yearsLuciano Pavarotti was born on the outskirts of Modena in north-centralItaly on October 12, 1935. He speaks fondly of his childhood, but thefamily had little money.
Pavarotti, his parents, and his sister werecrowded into a two-room apartment. His father was a baker, and hismother worked in a cigar factory.
In 1943, because of World War II(1939–45; when France, Great Britain, the United States, and theSoviet Union fought against Germany, Japan, and Italy) the family had toleave the city. For the followingyear they rented a single room from a farmer in the neighboringcountryside.Pavarotti's earliest musical influences were his father'srecordings featuring the popular tenors of the day. At around the age ofnine he began singing with his father in a small local church choir. Hetook a few voice lessons at the time, but he has said they were notsignificant.
After a normal childhood with an interest in sports,especially soccer, he graduated from the Schola Magistrale and faced thedilemma of choosing a career.Pavarotti was interested in pursuing a career as a professional soccerplayer, but his mother convinced him to train as a teacher. He taught inan elementary school for two years, but his interest in music finallywon out. Recognizing the risk involved, his father reluctantly gave hisconsent. He agreed that Pavarotti would be given free room and boarduntil age thirty. After that time, if he had not succeeded as a singer,he would earn a living by any means that he could. The beginning of his careerPavarotti began serious study in 1954 at the age of nineteen with ArrigoPola, a respected teacher and professional tenor in Modena.
Pola knew ofthe family's money problems and offered to teach Pavarotti forfree. At about this time Pavarotti met Adua Veroni, whom he married in1961.When Pola moved to Japan two and a half years later, Pavarotti became astudent of Ettore Campogalliani, who was also teaching the nowwell-known soprano (the highest female singing voice),Pavarotti's childhood friend Mirella Freni (1935–).
Duringhis years of study Pavarotti held part-time jobs in. AP/Wide World Photos.order to help sustain himself—first as an elementary schoolteacher and then, when he failed at that, as an insurance salesman.The first six years of study resulted in nothing more significant than afew recitals, all in small towns, and all without pay. When a nodule (asmall lump) developed on Pavarotti's vocal chords causing a'disastrous' concert in Ferrara, Italy, he decided to giveup singing. After this episode, Pavarotti's voice almostimmediately improved. He feels this was due to a psychological releaseconnected with this decision.
Whatever the reason, the nodule not onlydisappeared but, as he related in his autobiography, 'EverythingIhad learned came together with my natural voice to make the sound I hadbeen struggling so hard to achieve.' Expands his careerVery few opera singers are convincing actors and Pavarotti is not amongthem. However, by the mid-1980s he spent nearly as much time onpracticing his acting as on his singing.
In 1972 he starred in acommercial film,Yes, Giorgio.His solo album of Neapolitan songs, 'O Sole Mio,' outsoldany other record by a classical singer.Throughout the 1980s Pavarotti strengthened his status as one of theopera world's leading figures. Televised performances ofPavarotti in many of his greatest and favorite roles helped him broadenhis appeal. He was able to reach millions of viewers each time one ofhis opera performances or solo concerts was seen. He also began to showincreasing flexibility as a recording artist. He recorded classicaloperas and Italian folk songs.
He also recorded contemporary popularsongs with composer and conductor Henry Mancini (1924–1994). Hebecame the world's third-highest top-selling musician,right behind Madonna (1958–) and Elton John (1947–).By the time Pavarotti proposed and staged the first 'ThreeTenors' concert in Rome, he was unabashedly (boldly, withoutdisguise) thrilled with his immense popularity. 'I want to befamous everywhere,' he toldNewsweek.Pavarotti received his share of criticism and rejection as well. He wasbarred from contracts with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1989 because hecanceled many performances due to bad health. He was sued by the BritishBroadcasting Company (BBC) in 1992 for selling the network a lip-synched(pre-tending to sing to a pre-recorded track) concert. He was booed atLa Scala during a performance ofDon Carlo.He finally canceled tours and took several months off to rest.Pavarotti returned to the stage in 1993 with a concert before fivehundred thousand people in Central Park, in New York City.
Criticsaccused him of blatant commercialism (overly concerned with makingmoney), but the crowds loved the performances. In 1997 the threetenors—Placido Domingo (1941–), Jose Carreras(1947–) and Pavarotti—toured to mixed reviews, butdelighted audiences who seemed unwilling to let Pavarotti even think ofretiring.In 2000 prosecutors in Bologna, Italy, tried Pavarotti on tax fraudcharges. They claimed that although Pavarotti lived in Monte Carlo hestill had many property holdings in Italy. Pavarotti was accused ofowing almost $5 million and could have spent as much as a year and ahalf in prison. In the end, he was acquitted (had charges dismissed).In 2002 Pavarotti continued to drop hints that he would be retiringsoon, but had not given any specific date. Through his talent and hisdesire to reach out to audiences everywhere, Pavarotti has been animportant figure in bringing the world of opera to a great variety ofpeople.
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