He soon gained fame due to the power and strength of his voice. The young tenor earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland, making his 1965 U.S. debut in Miami, Florida on her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's seminal La Scala, at other major European houses, and, in 1968, at NYC's Metropolitan Opera. He received great acclaim, particularly working well with Joan Sutherland.
By the mid-70s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became one of his trademarks. The late 70s and 80s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) and as one of The Three Tenors in their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun Dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus, and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in Modena from pancreatic cancer.
Bellini: La Sonnambula / Act 1
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il breve indugio
In questo dì solenne
Ad implorar ne andai sui nostri nodi
D'un angelo il favor, prostrato al marmo
Dell'estinta mia madre, oh, benedici
La mia sposa, le dissi
Tutte le tue virtudi, ella felice
Renda il tuo figlio qual rendesti il padre
Ah, lo spero, ben mio, m'udì la madre
Ah, fausto augurio
Siate voi tutti, o amici
Al contratto presenti
Prendi: l'anel ti dono
Che un dì recava all'ara
L'alma beata e cara
Che arride al nostro, al nostro amor, al nostro amore
Sacro ti sia, sacro ti sia tal dono
Come fu sacro a lei
Sia de' tuoi voti e miei
Fido custode, fido custode, custode ognor
Sposi or noi siamo
Sposi
Oh, tenera parola
Cara, nel sen ti posi
Questa gentil viola
Puro, innocente fiore
Ei mi rammenti a te
Ah, non ne ha d'uopo il core
Ei mi rammenti a te
Ei mi rammenti a te
Ei mi rammenti a te
Caro
Dal dì che univa
I nostri cori un Dio
Con te rimase il mio
Il tuo con me restò
Il tuo con me, il tuo con me restò
Ah, vorrei trovar parole
A spiegar com'io t'adoro
Ma la voce, o mio tesoro
Non risponde al mio pensier
Tutto, ah, tutto in questo istante
Parla a me del foco ond'ardi
Io lo leggo ne' tuoi sguardi
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
L'alma mia nel tuo sembiante
Vede appien la tua scolpita
E a lei vola, è in lei rapita
Di dolcezza e di piacer
Tutto, ah, tutto in questo istante
Parla a me del foco ond'ardi
Io lo leggo ne' tuoi sguardi
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
Ah, vorrei trovar parole
A spiegar com'io t'adoro
Ma la voce, o mio tesoro
Non risponde al mio pensier
Ah, vorrei trovar parole
A spiegar com'io t'adoro
Ma la voce, o mio tesoro
Non risponde al mio pensier
Tutto, ah, tutto in questo istante
Parla a me del foco ond'ardi
Io lo leggo ne' tuoi sguardi
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
L'alma mia nel tuo sembiante
Vede appien la tua scolpita
E a lei vola, è in lei rapita
Di dolcezza e di piacer
Tutto, ah, tutto in questo istante
Parla a me del foco ond'ardi
Io lo leggo ne' tuoi sguardi
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
A spiegar com'io t'adoro
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
The song "L" by Luciano Pavarotti; Richard Bonynge: English Chamber Orchestra is a romantic duet that expresses the love between a couple who have just been married. The lyrics speak of the groom's love for his bride and his reverence for his mother, who has passed away. In the first verse, the groom asks for forgiveness for the delay in coming to ask for the angel's favor. He then tells his deceased mother to bless his wife, who possesses all of the angel's virtues. The second verse consists of the wedding vows, where the groom gives his bride an angelic ring that is sacred to him and to his mother. Then, they become husband and wife, and the groom expresses his love and adoration for his bride. He says that everything about her, from her eyes to her smile, speaks of the fire of love that burns within him. He wishes that he could find the words to express how much he loves her, but words fail him.
Line by Line Meaning
Perdona, o mia diletta
Forgive me, my beloved
Il breve indugio
For the brief delay
In questo dì solenne
On this solemn day
Ad implorar ne andai sui nostri nodi
I went to plead for our union
D'un angelo il favor, prostrato al marmo
I begged for an angel's favor at my mother's grave
Dell'estinta mia madre, oh, benedici
Oh, bless my deceased mother
La mia sposa, le dissi
To my bride, I said
Ella possiede
She possesses
Tutte le tue virtudi, ella felice
All of your virtues, she is happy
Renda il tuo figlio qual rendesti il padre
May your son be like your father
Ah, lo spero, ben mio, m'udì la madre
Ah, I hope so, my dear, my mother heard me
Ah, fausto augurio
Ah, auspicious omen
Siate voi tutti, o amici
May you all be present, friends
Al contratto presenti
For the present agreement
Prendi: l'anel ti dono
Take this ring as a gift
Che un dì recava all'ara
That one day I brought to the altar
L'alma beata e cara
The blessed and dear soul
Che arride al nostro, al nostro amor, al nostro amore
That smiles on our love, on our love
Sacro ti sia, sacro ti sia tal dono
May this gift be sacred to you
Come fu sacro a lei
As it was sacred to her
Sia de' tuoi voti e miei
May it be faithful to your vows and mine
Fido custode, fido custode, custode ognor
Faithful guardian, faithful guardian, guardian always
Sposi or noi siamo
Now we are married
Oh, tenera parola
Oh, tender word
Cara, nel sen ti posi
Dear, I place you in my heart
Questa gentil viola
This gentle violet
Puro, innocente fiore
Pure, innocent flower
Ei mi rammenti a te
It reminds me of you
Ah, non ne ha d'uopo il core
Ah, the heart does not need it
Caro
Beloved
Dal dì che univa
From the day that God joined
I nostri cori un Dio
Our hearts together
Con te rimase il mio
My heart remained with you
Il tuo con me restò
Yours remained with me
Il tuo con me, il tuo con me restò
Yours remained with me, yours remained with me
Ah, vorrei trovar parole
Ah, I wish I could find words
A spiegar com'io t'adoro
To explain how much I adore you
Ma la voce, o mio tesoro
But the voice, oh my treasure
Non risponde al mio pensier
Does not respond to my thoughts
Tutto, ah, tutto in questo istante
Everything, ah, everything in this moment
Parla a me del foco ond'ardi
Speaks to me of the fire you burn with
Io lo leggo ne' tuoi sguardi
I read it in your eyes
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
In your charming allure
L'alma mia nel tuo sembiante
My soul sees itself in your face
Vede appien la tua scolpita
Fully sees your sculpted beauty
E a lei vola, è in lei rapita
And flies to it, is captured by it
Di dolcezza e di piacer
Of sweetness and pleasure
A spiegar com'io t'adoro
To explain how much I adore you
Nel tuo vezzo lusinghier
In your charming allure
Lyrics © PUBLIC DOMAIN
Written by: Vincenzo Bellini, Felice Romani
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind