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.
La Traviata
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Che la belleza infiora.
E la fuggevol ora s'inebrii
A voluttà.
Libiamo ne'dolci fremiti
Che suscita l'amore,
Poichè quell'ochio al core
Omnipotente va.
Più caldi baci avrà.
Ah, libiamo;
Amor fra I calici
Più caldi baci avrà
Tra voi tra voi saprò dividere
Il tempo mio giocondo;
Tutto è follia nel mondo
Ciò che non è piacer.
Godiam, fugace e rapido
E'il gaudio dell?amore,
E'un fior che nasce e muore,
Ne più si può goder.
Godiam see'invita un fervido
Accento lusighier.
Godiam, la tazza e il cantico
La notte abbella e il riso;
In questo paradise
Ne sopra il nuovo dì.
Violetta:
La vita è nel tripudio
Quando non s'ami ancora.
Nol dite a chi l'ignora,
E' il mio destin così
Godiamo, la tazza e il cantico
La notte abbella e il riso;
In questo paradiso ne sopra il nuovo dì.
"Libiamo, libiamo ne' lieti calici" is a famous drinking song sung by Alfredo and Violetta in Act I of Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata." The song translates to "Let's drink, let's drink from the joyful cups." In this scene, Alfredo and Violetta express their mutual attraction and desire for each other through the song's lyrics, with each raising their glasses to toast to their love.
The first verse speaks of drinking from the happy cups that bloom with beauty and getting drunk with pleasure in the fleeting hour. The second verse mentions the sweet tremors of love that stir in the heart, and the power that comes with the gaze of the omnipotent eye. The final verse calls for love between the glasses, with warmer kisses.
In the following verses, Violetta and Alfredo continue to sing of the joy of life and love, and the follies of the world. They toast to the pleasures of the moment and the beauty of the night, while acknowledging the inevitable transience of it all. Violetta expresses her belief that life is meant for revelry and enjoyment, and hesitates to divulge her true feelings to someone who does not understand her destiny.
Overall, "Libiamo" is a lively and romantic drinking song that sets the stage for the passionate love story between Violetta and Alfredo.
Line by Line Meaning
Libiamo, libiamo ne'lieti calici Che la belleza infiora.
Let's drink from happy goblets adorned with beauty.
E la fuggevol ora s'inebrii A voluttà.
Let this fleeting moment intoxicate us with pleasure.
Libiamo ne'dolci fremiti Che suscita l'amore, Poichè quell'ochio al core Omnipotente va.
Let's drink to the sweet throbbing of love, because that all-powerful eye goes straight to the heart.
Libiamo, amore fra I calici Più caldi baci avrà.
Let's toast to love with the warmest kisses from our goblets.
Ah, libiamo; Amor fra I calici Più caldi baci avrà.
Ah, let's toast; love will have the warmest kisses from our goblets.
Tra voi tra voi saprò dividere Il tempo mio giocondo; Tutto è follia nel mondo Ciò che non è piacer.
I will share my joyful time with you all; everything that isn't pleasure is folly in the world.
Godiam, fugace e rapido E'il gaudio dell?amore, E'un fior che nasce e muore, Ne più si può goder.
Let's enjoy, fleeting and quick, the joy of love, a flower that's born and dies, unable to be enjoyed again.
Godiam see'invita un fervido Accento lusighier.
Let's enjoy, as an ardent and playful accent invites us to.
Godiam, la tazza e il cantico La notte abbella e il riso; In questo paradise Ne sopra il nuovo dì.
Let's enjoy, with cup and song, the night adorned with laughter and in this paradise, a new day rises.
Violetta: La vita è nel tripudio Quando non s'ami ancora. Nol dite a chi l'ignora, E' il mio destin così
Violetta: Life is in the revelry when one hasn't yet loved. Don't tell those who don't know, it's my destiny.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANNUNZIO PAOLO MANTOVANI, GIUSEPPE VERDI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind