Who would tell Fernando Pavarotti, a baker from Modena that humble fan of opera, Pavarotti, his only son, was to be the biggest myth of twentieth- century bel canto. Born on 12 October 1935, Luciano Pavarotti grew up surrounded by music and soon learned that the vocation of his father was also his. With him he took his first artistic steps in the chorus of the Teatro de la Comunn of their city, and lived with him for the first time this magical feeling go on stage and thrill the audience with her voice. Plaza Mayor de Módena

Modena, his hometown

Catedral de Módena

It was during the International Singing Competition in Llangollen (Wales), where father and son won the first prize along with the Choir of Gioachino Rossini. We are in There is no turning back. The young Luciano decided to pursue singing professionally and pursue a career as a tenor, so, while studying in the "Scuola Magistrale ", where after graduating he worked as an elementary school teacher, decides to continue studying singing, first with Arrigo Polo in Modena and then with Ettore Campogalliani in Mantua.

Mantua, donde continuó sus estudios de canto

Opera Rigoletto: An intense drama of passion, deceit, filial love and revenge with a central figure, Rigoletto, the hunchbacked court jester of the Duchy of Mantua. In the picture the house of Rigoletto

Piazza Broletto. Mantua

On April 29, 1961 Pavarotti is presented to Opera Competition Internazionale in Reggio Emilia. It is the first time they played an entire opera, nothing less than "La Bohème, Verdi, giving life to his character, Rodolfo. It's a resounding success. Pavarotti gets the first prize and will automaticall y open the doors of world opera circuit. Birth of a myth.

En Reggio Emilia cantará su primera ópera

Reggio Emilia

His first international appearances are in Amsterdam, Vienna, Zurich and London in In the year 1965 made his debut as Edgardo in "Lucia di Lammermoor" in Miami, with the famous soprano Joan Sutherland, in a production that would take them to Australia and marking the beginning of what would be a joint success story. But without doubt, the milestone this year was his debut again at La Scala in the role of Rodolfo, the character who would give him more joy throughout his career. Years later return to Milan to play characters like El Duque, from "Rigoletto", Tybalt ( "I Capuleti ei Montecchi" by Bellini) and Des Grieux ( "Manon" by Massenet), or the "Requiem" by Verdi to celebrate the Toscanini's centenary in 1976.

1965, será su debut en La Scala de Milán

La Scala

Ten years before Pavarotti's name has already been established internationally in Covent Garden in London, where he is awarded the title "King of the Octave Do".

Covent Garden de Londres. Lo llaman “Rey de la Octava Do”

El Coliseum Covent Garden Real Opera House Covent Garden

In 1967 debut in San Francisco and in 1968 at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York where he performs the feat of singing nine high C in an aria from "La fille du regiment," he worth a Time magazine cover

1968, debuta en el Metropolitan Opera House de New York

Apart from its ability and expressive voice, his stage performance also reaches the genius, especially in comic roles, which is particularly convincing. Over the years, as his voice grows and darkens, has expanded its repertoire and the great tenor roles to add other more dramatic as Radames in "Aida" or Prince Calaf in "Turandot", culminating in 1992 Otello, the most important and difficult role in the career of this unique opera singer.

During the eighties and early nineties, Pavarotti became popular worldwide thanks to its popular frequent recitals and collaborations with pop stars.

He is the first conceived the opera as a mass spectacle. Still remember his performances in Hyde Park in London (where he sang in front of Charles and Diana of Wales), Central Park in New York in a concert broadcast live on television to millions of people around the world, or under Eiffel Tower delivered before 300,000 fans.

Hyde Park de Londres Hyde Park de Londres, grandes recitales

Parísgrandes recitales París, grandes recitales

Central Park de New York, grandes recitales

The performances with his colleagues José Carreras and Plácido Domingo in the name of "Three Tenors" indisputable landmark in the popularization of the genre.

From 1990 and for several consecutive years, Pavarotti was actively involved with the organization War Child to raise funds for the construction of a music therapy center in Mostar.

Thus, annually organized concerts in his hometown of Modena, under the title of "Pavarotti and friends", which also involved other personalities of international music. Among the long list of colleagues with whom he has worked are also those already mentioned Domingo and Carreras, the Montserrat Caballé, Kiri Te Kanawa, Renata Scotto, Andrea Bocelli and Claudio Abado directors, Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein, to name only some of the best known.

His discography includes collections of arias and recitals, a live concert at Carnegie Hall, anthologies of Neapolitan and Italian songs and performances with several non-bel canto singers such as Sting, Bryan Adams, Caetano Veloso, Celine Dion or the singer of the U2, Bono, with whom Pavarotti, and left tracks recorded for history, has forged a strong friendship. His anthology disc "Essential Pavarotti" was the first classical record in staying at number one in the UK singles chart for five weeks....

Concierto en vivo en el Carnegie Hall

In January 2003, his partner Nicoletta Mantovani gave birth prematurely to twins, but only one of them, Alice, survived. Pavarotti had three daughters (Lorenza, Cristina and Giuliana) of his former wife, Adua Veroni, which broke up when he began his relationship with Nicoletta, until then his personal secretary. In December 2003 and 68 years, married his second wife, she of 33, in a civil ceremony in the theater in his hometown, Modena.

On 7 July 2006, the singer is hospitalized in New York because of pancreatic cancer. On his departure, while recovering from surgery at home in front of the Adriatic, said to the Corriere della Sera: "I am optimistic and I will be unto death".

On September 6, 2007, died at his home and the funeral was held in his hometown. The tenor was buried at Montale Rangote cemetery near his villa on the outskirts of the city, which are buried his parents and his son Richard, who died shortly after birth in 2003.

Teatro Bellini de Catania, Italia. Homenajes

Lina/07