ABSTRACT

Tenor Pavarotti won the international competition at the Teatro Reggio Emilia in 1961 and made his debut as Rodolfo there in the same year. His international career developed swiftly, with operatic performances at Covent Garden in 1963 and tours of Australia (1965) and the USA (1968). Acclaimed for his robust, energetic style, he became particularly identified at this time with the roles of Edgardo, Tonio (The Daughter of the Regiment), Cavaradossi and Arturo (I puritani (The Puritans)), and was often partnered with Joan Sutherland. Pavarotti’s prominent international reputation increased as a result of his involvement in Italy’s 1990 World Cup festivities. Together with José Carreras and Placido Domingo, he appeared in a gala concert that was billed as ‘The Three Tenors’, and his performance of Puccini’s Nessun dorma (None Shall Sleep) was adopted as the official anthem of the tournament. His showmanship and flair ensure his continued popular appeal, but musical connoisseurs may prefer, perhaps, to remember him by his notable recordings of the 1960s and 1970s.