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By Ricky T. Gallardo
, Acting Life and Times Editor
The great tenor Luciano Pavarotti
died
in his home in Modena, Italy, early Thursday morning. He was 71.
Pavarotti was born October 12,
1935, in Modena,
the son of a baker who was also an amateur opera singer.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
last year, the Italian tenor was reported to have been receiving
further treatment last month. “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,” was part of a statement
released by Pavarotti’s spokesman and
manager, Terri Robson.
In July 2006 he underwent surgery
in a New York hospital after doctors discovered a malignant
pancreatic mass, causing all his remaining 2006 concerts to be
canceled.
“I was a fortunate and happy
man. Then this blow arrived. I am paying for this fortune and
happiness,” Pavarotti was quoted by an Italian newspaper a month
after that surgery.
His fans in Manila were able to
witness Pavorotti’s majestic musical presence on stage when the
tenor performed at the Philippine International Convention Center in
1994, flown in by producer Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas, a well-known
socialite and philanthropist.
The Manila Times spoke to Arenas
a few minutes after the announcement of Pavarotti’s death. “I am
so saddened by this piece of news,” Arenas said. “There will
definitely be a dent in the international music arena, where Luciano
is considered a master of his art. He was in a class all his own,
his pianissimo and vocal power beyond compare. I will definitely
miss him.”
Arenas shared with The Times
memories of Pavarotti during his Manila visit. “I was so amused to
see him riding his golf cart inside the presidential suite [at the
then Westin Philippine Plaza] where he was billeted. I guess he was
preserving his energy for his show.”
Pavarotti “was one of the
international artists that had a strict list of requirements like
the particular brand of pasta, type of pillows and selection of
wine. But it was all worth it. He deserved everything he asked
for,” Arenas said.
For his multitudes of
international fans, Pavarotti’s timeless “Nessun Dorma” from
Puccini’s “Turandot” came to represent what his music and
talent are all about. In fact, “Nessun Dorma” was the tenor’s
last official performance, performed at the opening ceremony of the
Turin Winter Olympics in Italy early in 2006. His last Asian concert
was held in Taipei during the Christmas season in 2005.
Pavarotti was called the “King
of the High C’s” for the ease and flair with which he reached
his difficult high notes. In fact it was his ability to hit nine
glorious high C’s in quick succession that first turned him into
an international superstar, singing Tonio’s aria “Ah! Mes amis,”
in Donizetti’s “La Fille du Regiment” at New York’s
Metropolitan Opera in 1972.
His musical collaboration with
top-rate artists Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras in the “Three
Tenors” concert also earned his worldwide adulation.
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