Luciano Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti (October 12, 1935 - September 6, 2007) was one of the world's greatest tenor singers. After modest beginnings in Modena, Italy Pavarotti went on to become one of the most revered singers in the world.

Early years

Pavarotti was born at the height of the depression years, to a local baker, in Modena, Italy.

His early years were typical of many boys at that time. As he grew he expressed a strong interest in football and once said he hoped to pursue it as a career. Fate however had other things in store.

Another of Pavarotti's passion from an early stage was music. His father was a tenor singer in the local church choir and actively encouraged his son to consider pursuing a career in music.

By his late teens, Pavarotti was a member of the Modena Rossini choir which competed and won first prize in a 1955 international singing competition in Wales.

In 1961 Pavarotti made his professional debut singing Rodolfo in La Boheme.

Breakthrough

His thirtieth year proved critical to Pavarotti's future success.

His first performance at La Scala was followed by a tour of Australia with already legendary opera singer Joan Sutherland and her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge.

Sutherland and Bonynge have said they saw something special in Pavarotti and Sutherland took special interest in using this tour to impart her technical knowledge to the still developing tenor.

Growing reputation

By 1968 Pavarotti's reputation was sufficient to see him debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.