Luciano Pavarotti: King of the High C’s

In 1961, a promising young tenor from Modena made his operatic stage debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s “La Boheme” at a small Italian theater. Twenty years later, his name would be synonymous with opera worldwide. Pavarotti rocketed to fame in the early 1970s after thrilling the New York audience with his bravura performance in Donizetti’s “La Fille du Regiment” (with Joan Sutherland), where he tossed off nine high c’s. His oversized personality (and physique) and natural charm made him a popular guest on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” which broadened his fame and appeal. Managed aggressively by Herbert Breslin, Pavarotti moved further away from the opera stage. The “Three Tenors” concerts (with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras) broke all previous records for classical music. This presentation will explore Pavarotti’s musical influences and survey his remarkable career through rare and historical footage.