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.
Chanson de l'adieu
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est mourir à ce qu′on aime:
On laisse un peu de soi-même
En toute heure et dans tout lieu.
C'est toujours le deuil d'un vœu,
Le dernier vers d′un poème;
Partir, c′est mourir un peu,
Et l'on part, et c′est un jeu,
Et jusqu'à l′adieu suprême
C'est son âme que l'on sème,
Que l′on sème en chaque adieu:
Partir, c′est mourir un peu.
The lyrics of Luciano Pavarotti's song Chanson de l'adieu, speak of the emotional turmoil of leaving someone or something behind which one cherishes. The song starts with the statement that departing from someone or something is equivalent to dying a little. It is like giving up a part of oneself in every moment and at every place. The pain of leaving is the mourning of losing something that was once so beloved that a part of oneself got deeply invested in it. Departing is not an easy task since it brings closure to a wishful dream or a chapter which lasted for long. It's like the final verse of a long poem or a eulogy in a funeral, which indicates that a part of oneself is left behind.
The second stanza of the song focuses on how leaving someone or something is like a game one participates in. A game we play till the final goodbye, that translocates our soul to different places as it sows a little part of ourselves wherever an adieu is given. It's a rising sense of detachment that comes with each departure, a part of us that belongs to someone or something left behind. Departing is like dying every time we give a little part of our soul that we will never reclaim. The song deeply expresses the emotions attached to the farewell, which marks the end of something significant and the beginning of a new phase of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Partir, c’est mourir un peu,
Leaving is like dying a little, losing a part of oneself that is connected to what one loves.
C'est mourir à ce qu'on aime:
It is like dying to what one loves, since leaving implies separation from it.
On laisse un peu de soi-même
One always leaves behind a part of oneself when one leaves, regardless of when or where.
En toute heure et dans tout lieu.
This leaving takes place at any time and in any place.
C'est toujours le deuil d'un vœu,
It always feels like mourning of a dream or desire, an ending of what we had hoped for.
Le dernier vers d'un poème;
It is like the final verse of a poem or a song, marking the end of a chapter.
Et l'on part, et c'est un jeu,
Leaving may sometimes feel like a game, when it is done impulsively or with no regard for the consequences.
Et jusqu'à l'adieu suprême
And until the final goodbye, each departure is an opportunity to leave a part of oneself behind.
C'est son âme que l'on sème,
In each departure, one is scattering a part of one's soul, which remains attached to what one leaves behind.
Que l'on sème en chaque adieu:
This scattering of one's soul happens with every farewell, and it is inextricably linked to the experience of leaving.
Partir, c'est mourir un peu.
In summary, leaving always involves a little death, a little goodbye to what we love and what we are attached to.
Writer(s): Francesco Paolo Tosti, Edmond Felix Marie D'haraucourt, Alexander Faris
Contributed by Mason Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.