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.
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Nel blu, dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me
Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Nel blu, dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Nel biu, dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
The song "Nel blu dipinto di blu," also known as "Volare", was performed by the legendary Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti. The song is written in Italian and translates to "In the blue, painted blue" or "Flying, oh, oh!" It was composed by Domenico Modugno in 1958, with lyrics by Modugno and Franco Migliacci. The song tells a story of the joy of flying and the emotions that come with it. The singer is flying higher and higher into the blue sky, leaving the world behind, and hearing a sweet music that is played only for him.
The song is admired all over the world due to its upbeat melody, catchy phrases, and soothing tune. It has been listed as one of the greatest Italian songs of all time, and Pavarotti's version is considered one of the best interpretations of the song. The song's impact has been so significant that it has been used in various movies and TV programs to denote happiness, joy, and freedom.
The lyrics of the song symbolize a sense of freedom, and the colorful world that can be seen while flying. The "blue painted blue" denotes the vast blue sky while "volare" represents the power of flying. The singer is ecstatic to be flying higher than the sun, leaving everything behind, and enjoying his flight. The sweet music symbolizes the joy that comes when one achieves their goals or desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Volare, oh, oh!
Flying, oh, oh!
Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Singing, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Nel blu, dipinto di blu
In the blue, painted blue
Felice di stare lassù
Happy to be up there
E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
And I flew, I flew happily higher than the sun and even higher
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù
While the world slowly disappeared far away
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me
A sweet music played only for me
Nel blu, dipinto di blu
In the blue, painted blue
Felice di stare lassù
Happy to be up there
Nel biu, dipinto di blu
In the blue, painted blue
Felice di stare lassù
Happy to be up there
Writer(s): Francesco Migliacci, Domenico Modugno
Contributed by Stella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.