Hi Everyone,

There is much happiness going on around here!!  Il Volo is coming back, not just for their March concert with Laura, but touring The US again this year! The concerts are fewer than usual, but we understand their need to travel to other countries, especially ones they have not been to before. We have to share although it’s hard!!!

This time we’ll have a look at the great Italian tenor, Pavarotti. Piero says the first CD he bought was one of Luciano Pavarotti’s.

Luciano Pavarotti,  12 October 1935 – 6 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who also crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most commercially successful tenors of all time. He made numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, gaining worldwide fame for the brilliance and beauty of his tone—especially into the upper register—and eventually established himself as one of the finest tenors of the 20th century.

As one of The Three Tenors, Pavarotti became well known for his televised concerts and media appearances. From the beginning of his professional career as a tenor in 1961 in Italy to his final performance of “Nessun dorma” at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Pavarotti was at his best in bel canto operas, pre-Aida Verdi roles, and Puccini works such as La bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. Pavarotti was also noted for his charity work on behalf of refugees and the Red Cross, amongst others. He died from pancreatic cancer on 6 September 2007.    

Luciano Pavarotti was born in 1935 on the outskirts of Modena in Northern Italy, the son of Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and amateur tenor, and Adele Venturi, a cigar factory worker. Although he spoke fondly of his childhood, the family had little money; its four members were crowded into a two-room apartment. According to Pavarotti, his father had a fine tenor voice but rejected the possibility of a singing career because of nervousness. World War II forced the family out of the city in 1943. For the following year they rented a single room from a farmer in the neighbouring countryside, where the young Pavarotti developed an interest in farming.

After abandoning the dream of becoming a football goalkeeper. Pavarotti spent seven years in vocal training. Pavarotti’s earliest musical influences were his father’s recordings, most of them featuring the popular tenors of the day – Beniamino Gigi, Giovann Martinelli, Tito Schipa, and Enrico Carus. Pavarotti’s favourite tenor and idol was Giuseppe Di Stefano and he was also deeply influenced by Mario Lanza, saying: “In my teens I used to go to Mario Lanza movies and then come home and imitate him in the mirror”. At around the age of nine he began singing with his father in a small local church choir.

After what appears to have been a normal childhood with a typical interest in sports—in Pavarotti’s case football above all, he graduated from the Scuola Magistrale and faced the dilemma of a career choice. He was interested in pursuing a career as a professional football goalkeeper, but his mother convinced him to train as a teacher. He subsequently taught in an elementary school for two years but finally allowed his interest in music to win out. Recognising the risk involved, his father gave his consent only reluctantly.

Pavarotti began the serious study of music in 1954 at the age of 19 with Arrigo Pola, a respected teacher and professional tenor in Modena who offered to teach him without remuneration.

While undertaking an international “farewell tour,” Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2006. The tenor fought back against the implications of this diagnosis, undergoing major abdominal surgery and making plans for the resumption and conclusion of his singing commitments.He died at his home in Modena on 6 September 2007. Within hours of his death, his manager, Terri Robson, noted in an e-mail statement, “The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness.

Pavarotti was born in the outskirts of Modena in Northern Italy.

Modena  is a city and comune (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

An ancient town, it is the seat of an archbishop, but is now known as “the capital of engines”, since the factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati are, or were, located here and all, except Lamborghini, have headquarters in the city or nearby. Lamborghini is headquartered not far away in Sant’Agata Bolognese in the adjacent Province of Bologna. One of Ferrari’s cars, the 360 Modena, was named after the town itself. One of the colors for Ferraris is Modena yellow.

Modena is well known in culinary circles for its production of balsamic vinegar and also for its Military Academy, Italy’s “West Point”, which is housed in the Ducal Palace.

Famous Modenesi include Mary of Modena, the Queen consort of England and Scotland; operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) and soprano Mirella Freni, born in Modena itself; Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), eponymous founder of the Ferrari motor company; the Catholic Priest and Senior Exorcist of Vatican Gabriele Amorth; renowned chef Massimo Bottura and the rock singer Vasco Rossi who was born in Zocca, one of the 47 comuni in the Province of Modena.

Latest tweets include, “In Bologna” from Gianluca. Piero celebrating food and family this past Sunday and Ignazio sporting his new tatoo “Born To Rock” and in English too!!

Up to date tweet from Piero, “On the way to Rome”, can flight to here be far behind?

Pretty soon we can get back to our “In Case You Missed It” column as we get more and more information about their tour. Keep checking the right side of the site page under  ‘Coming Up..Il Volo’, for the latest tour dates as we get them.

 **More tour dates are coming out, but we won’t post until we have confirmation.

**** New tour date from Helen. June 19th at Freedom Hall Amphitheatre, Sterling Hts. MI.

******* Here is a link to vote for “The World Award” for Latin Billboards. It is a popularity award.

http://msnlatino.telemundo.com/entretenimiento/Premios_Billboard/premio_tu_mundo

Hope you enjoyed a look at Pavarotti and his birthplace of Modena!

Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, we are so looking forward to seeing you again! Love and Luck!                                 

Linda