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.
Madama Butterfly
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un bene piccolino
Un bene da bambino
Quale a me si conviene
Vogliatemi bene
Noi siamo gente avvezza alle piccole cose
Umili e silenziose ad una tenerezza
Come il ciel, come l'onda del mare
Dammi ch'io baci le tue mani care
Mia Butterfly, come t'han ben nomata
Tenue farfalla
Dicon ch'oltre mare
Se cade in man dell'uom
Ogni farfalla da uno spillo è trafitta
Ed in tavola infitta
Un po' di vero c'è
E tu lo sai perché?
Perché non fugga più
Io t'ho ghermita
Ti serro palpitante
Sei mia
Sì, per la vita
Vieni, vieni
Via dall'anima in pena
L'angoscia paurosa
È notte serena
Guarda, dorme ogni cosa
Ah, dolce notte
Vieni, vieni
Quante stelle
Non le vidi mai sì belle
Ah, vieni, vieni
È notte serena
Guarda, dorme ogni cosa
Dolce notte, quante stelle
Vieni, vieni
Non le vidi mai sì belle
Vieni, vieni
Trema, brilla ogni favilla
Vien, sei mia
Col baglior d'una pupilla
Via l'angoscia dal tuo cor
(?)
Ti serro palpitante, oh vieni
Oh, quanti occhi fissi attenti
Quanti sguardi
Guarda, dorme ogni cosa
Ah, vien, vien
Ride il ciel
Ah, vieni, vieni
Ah, dolce notte
Tutto estatico d'amor ride il ciel
The lyrics to Luciano Pavarotti's song "Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Act 2" convey a sense of tenderness and deep affection between two people. The song begins with the singer asking his lover to love him in a small way, in a way that is fitting for him. He speaks about being a person who is accustomed to small and humble things, and he asks his lover to approach their relationship with a gentle and profound love, like the sky or the waves of the sea.
The singer goes on to express his desire to kiss his lover's hands, addressing her as "My Butterfly," referencing the fragility and delicacy of a butterfly's wings. He acknowledges the vulnerability of their love and the fear that it could be easily shattered, but he promises to hold onto her tightly and not let her go. He speaks about the beauty of the night and the stars, and urges his lover to come to him and find comfort in their love. The song ends with a sense of joy and ecstasy, with the singer saying that the heavens themselves are laughing and embracing their love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Act 2" convey a sense of deep tenderness, vulnerability, and beauty. The singer speaks of love as something that is delicate and easily crushed, but also profound and powerful enough to make the night sky itself laugh with joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Vogliatemi bene
Love me
Un bene piccolino
Love me a little
Un bene da bambino
Love me as a child
Quale a me si conviene
Love me as I deserve
Noi siamo gente avvezza alle piccole cose
We are accustomed to small things
Umili e silenziose ad una tenerezza
Humble and quiet in our tenderness
Sfiorante e pur profonda
Gentle and yet profound
Come il ciel, come l'onda del mare
Like the sky, like the waves of the sea
Dammi ch'io baci le tue mani care
Let me kiss your dear hands
Mia Butterfly, come t'han ben nomata
My Butterfly, as you have been named
Tenue farfalla
Delicate butterfly
Dicon ch'oltre mare
They say that beyond the sea
Se cade in man dell'uom
If it falls into the hands of man
Ogni farfalla da uno spillo è trafitta
Every butterfly is pierced by a pin
Ed in tavola infitta
And is laid out on a table
Un po' di vero c'è
There is some truth
E tu lo sai perché?
And do you know why?
Perché non fugga più
So that it may never escape
Io t'ho ghermita
I have caught you
Ti serro palpitante
I hold you tight, my heart beating
Sei mia
You are mine
Sì, per la vita
Yes, for life
Vieni, vieni
Come, come
Via dall'anima in pena
Away from the tormented soul
L'angoscia paurosa
The fearful anguish
È notte serena
It is a calm night
Guarda, dorme ogni cosa
Look, everything is sleeping
Ah, dolce notte
Ah, sweet night
Quante stelle
How many stars
Non le vidi mai sì belle
I have never seen such beautiful ones
Trema, brilla ogni favilla
Every spark trembles and shines
Vien, sei mia
Come, you are mine
Col baglior d'una pupilla
With the gleam of an eye
Via l'angoscia dal tuo cor
Away goes the anguish from your heart
(?)
Unknown meaning
Oh, quanti occhi fissi attenti
Oh, how many fixed, attentive eyes
Quanti sguardi
How many glances
Ride il ciel
The sky is laughing
Tutto estatico d'amor ride il ciel
Everything is ecstatically laughing with love
Lyrics © PUBLIC DOMAIN
Written by: Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martiamatvila5348
ANNA MARTÍ..🐾🐾 ❤ TRÍSTA
BELLÍSIMA ❤ RUMÁNTICA.
LA ÓPERA MADAMME ❤❤
BUTTERFLAY ❤❤*****¡¡¡!!¡¡¡❤
❤MADAMME 🦋 PARIPODA 🦋
DE JAIME PUCCINI ..CUÁN YÓ
ERÁ MOLT MOLT JOVA DUMÉS
SENTÍA LA MÚSICA 🎶 😌 ELS
ULLS SÉ MUNPLIÁN DE LLÁGRIMAS LÁ SENTÍA TÁN .
TRÍSTA...POBRÁ JAPUNASETA
COM CAÚ ALS BRASÚS DE ÚN
HOMA SENSA ESCRULPULS
COR ❤ ❤ Í SENTIMÉNS ❤❤
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
@RedhairedCrow
This is the first recording I heard of Pavarotti and Madame Butterfly. It was one of the most transformative moments in my life, as a small child listening to audio recordings at the public library in my town in Alabama. An extra thanks to a public library where someone not white and/or privileged could listen to music like this from around the world. It inspired me to travel around the world and then finally really appreciate what had been erased and destroyed of my cultures in what was renamed the USA.
@Streisand70
Amen!
@oleflogger6828
We ALL must keep working to retain/reinvigorate classical music in our kids' schools. It (classical music) is FAR too precious to allow mindless bean counters to just cancel from our society.
@rossananuboloni9057
Meravigliosi insieme Freni e Pavarotti. l'emozione mi attanaglia ogni volta che ascolto questo sublime duetto e l'intera opera dello straordinario maestro G.Puccini.
@chriswells185
Thank you so much for your passionate thoughts in your post. I too think this is a life changing piece of music.xx
@stillstanding6031
These two are sheer magic to my ears. They say they both have a marvelous chemistry. Of course; they're both from Modena. They drank from the same fountain of beauty.
@juanjosedelreyfernandez7065
Gracias Amigos. Subir esta Joya es muy placentero para los admiradores de esta magnifica y bellísima soprano y el Maestro Pavarotti. Yo soy Krausista total pero me rindo ante estos FENOMENOS. 🎶🎶🎼🎼🇪🇸. Un vijo tenor.
@georgeclarke163
Remarkable talent that has now sadly gone for ever. Just remember them for the legacy that they have left.
@waltramsey9953
Freni and Pavarotti - perfection for Butterfly.
@marlyharris
What a glorious version of this superb duet. I adore Freni in this role (or any other role, she's marvelous). I am so grateful to youtube for having these magnificent moments that light up my life.