The great tenor, whose name means “broken turkey” in Italian, succumbed to pancreatic cancer last night. He lived large. Too bad he couldn’t have lived longer.
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Go to YouTube and rustle up the recent performance of Nessun Dorma by Paul Potts… then listen to Pavarotti’s rendition. Luciano absolutely owned that piece.
His was one of the very few talents that could leave me with my jaw dropped in admiration and my eyes watering at the sheer magnificence.
We demand that our entertainers be larger than life and Pavarotti fit the bill in all aspects. He made it possible for the careers that Bocelli and Groban have now.
Russ: What you say is quite true but it doesn’t diminish from the story of the Car Warehouse salesman who gave up his dream and rediscovered it in front of 2000 people and the judges. Sometimes it’s the moment and the context rather than real overwhelming talent but I don’t begrudge Mr. Potts any of his success. He sings well enough and he inspires people by his success. Sometimes it’s just nice to see a humble, shy nobody make good.
Godspeed.
Where did you get that his name means “broken turkey.” Unless you’re talking dialect, Pavarotti doesn’t mean anything like that at all.
BJTexs:
No, I do not mean to dismiss Potts’ accomplishment. No way. He’s very, very good — a success story that resonates in a way that would ordinarily make me think “only in America.” I’d pay good money to see him perform.
But there was only one Pavarotti.
Agreed! Transcendant talent of the ages. It was clear to me the first time I heard him sing with the Three Tenors that he was the man.
A great man’s passing raises the Great Questions.
Can we go on living in a world without the Ronnie James Dio of opera?
Will our emptied existences be redeemed only on that far-off day when we take our grandchildren on our knees to speak of the man whose death sparked The Great European Ham Glut?
Is he going to finish that? If anyone could…
psychologizer:
Geez, somebody squeeze lemon juice into your Frappacino this morning?
Seems as though your mellow has been well and truly harshed.
eh, BJ, it made me chuckle. my roommate my freshman year of college had seen him in rehearsal somewhere, and all she could talk about was how he’d eaten a big honkin sandwich on stage and what a disgusting pig he was.
Michael Moore made him look skinny.
I once saw Bocelli perform on Oprah, and he brought tears to my eyes. I could not tell if it was his voice, or the fact I was forced to watch Oprah.
Groban is quite impressive for a youngster.
broken turkey? I thought it meant “whole turkey in one sitting”.
He’s very, very good  a success story that resonates in a way that would ordinarily make me think “only in America.â€Â
As almost everything does, your comment reminded me of the Simpsons. Lisa had reached the national finals of a Voice Of America-type speechwriting contest, and one of the other finalists was an Asian immigrant named Trong:
When my family arrived in this country four months ago, we spoke no
English and had no money in our pockets. Today, we own a nationwide
chain of wheel-balancing centers. Where else but in America, or
possibly Canada, could our family find such opportunity?
Regarding Potts, I’m skeptical as to whether he has the longterm legs — he’s ridden “Nessun Dorma” a long way. But it’s poignant that The Man Who Brought Opera To The Masses passed away at the end of a summer that saw a bloke from Wales bring opera to the even-massier-masses.
Jeremy, The “rotti” part means broken. I always thought the “Pava” was something to do with paving stones, or floor/road paving with broken stones, because it makes the most sense. pavimentare), to pave or cobble; but there are italian names for birds starting with “pav” – the word for peacock (pavone, and pavoncello , for peewit or lapwing.
“Pava” is another name for “Paduan”, too, but I really think Pavarotti’s name derives from something to do with paving.
He lived to 71 and died of pancreatic cancer. He was performing until just a couple years ago. I doubt if he had started running in the 1970s he would have lived past today.
Pancreatic is a mean one, tough and prone to rapid metastasis. Typically gets into the liver, then buh-bye…
My sister went that way. Nasty.
I would not wish pancreatic anything on anyone. It is my understanding that the pain is excruciating.
Well I can’t speak to his eating habits, womanizing or personal hygiene but the man is almost universally acknowledged as one of the greatest operatic talents of the last century. He made himself available for many projects outside of what was the insular world of opera and thus sparked a crossover that exposed this music to thousands. His voice and control was impeccable and his phrasing unmatched.
Oh, yea, he was also quite fat.
JD: Josh Groban is a lightweight. Paul Potts would kick his ass, musically speaking. The chiceetas like him for his quando romantique and fluffy hair.
Please BJ, Mr. Potts should stick with Danny Boy
;D
You know, I got my start in song-and-dance and for a while thought about becoming one of them opera singers, but I was a bass/baritone because, you know, I’ve got balls so I ended up doing acting … and broads. Not them fat opera broads either.
It’s good to be alive.
Maggie:
It seems as though you and I are on a collision couse this day.
It makes me sad. However…
Josh Groban is teh ordinary and wears fluffy pink underwear. With a wide stance.
Your turn…
yeah, well, at least he knows his place.
(I’m really just having fun wit’ ya. it’s the really catty soprano in me coming out. still, RTO would tell you that when I heard Potts i said, “eh, he’s no Pavarotti” he’s not a Puccini voice by any stretch of the imagination. And I have a hard time getting past the teeth. eeeeee!)
My best friend went out with pancreatic cancer. Non-smoker, good shape, only in his mid-forties. Usually by the time it’s diagnosed, it’s too late to treat. Very nasty and painful way to go.
I lost a good friend 20 years ago. He was 38 and left a wife and four kids. It was a horror show. Just last year I lost a former business associate and good friend. He was 55 and was gone three months after diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is a bitch.
Maggie: yup, just messin wit ya too. Of course Potts is no Pavarotti but he’s quite good and his personal story is pretty cool.
BTW: There is a story of Potts taking singing lessons in Italy mentions him singing for Pavarotti and struggling with a Puccini piece. Pavarotti likes his voice and allowed him to restart the song. I’m not surprised that he struggled as Puccini is a royal, flaming Bee-atch to sing.
Josh Groban wears curlers and shaves his legs. :-)
must be why my dad loves him. NTTATWWT
I have a soft spot in my heart for popera. loves me the Sarah Brightman too.
Yea I confess that I like some of that popera too. Just not Josh. After hearing Bocelli, Brightman, Pavarotti and even Potts sing, Josh sounds like Tom Jones on valium.
Sarah Brightman singing “Pie Jesu” with the English kid live gives me big time chills.
Bocelli and Brightman are in my car stereo system at this moment. Their duet on Romanza is similar to the Boston Cream “Pie Jesu” that BJ mentioned, without the shaved chocolate on top.
I saw Bocelli at the Hollywood Bowl, and it was spellbinding.
Real men only sing the Psalms at Church. Even then, they only mouth the words.
Fat singers and dishwashers huh? Sissies ..
He did fill the bill for being “larger than life”.
Whatever “high C” Opera dweebs (“sans talent”) might want to write.
I love Andrea Bocelli.
Have you ever heard that piece (a mio padre) he sings about his father at the end of Sogno ?
Andrea Bocelli is truly a master. He has a super great voice that sounds heavenly.””,
andrea bocelli is really a gifted man and he has the best sounding voice ever “
there is no other great male voice than Andrea Bocelli, -*: