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.
Pourquoi me réveiller
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porquoi me réveiller...
Et pourtant bien proche est le temps...
Des orages et des tristesses!
Porquoi me réveiller, ó souffle du Printemps?
Demain, dans le vallon, viendra le voyageur,
Se souvenant de ma gloire première
The lyrics of Luciano Pavarotti's song "Pourquoi me réveiller" express the confusion and melancholy of the singer. The first couple of lines "Pourquoi me réveiller, ó souffle du Printemps?" translates to "Why do you awaken me, O breath of spring?" The singer is seemingly being woken up by the breath of spring, which typically represents a time of renewal and happiness, but he is still surrounded by sadness. The second couple of lines, "Et pourtant bien proche est le temps.../Des orages et des tristesses!" translates to "Yet so near is the time of storm and of trouble!" The singer is lamenting the fact that even though spring is near, there is still sorrow and trouble on the horizon.
The repetition of "Pourquoi me réveiller" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's confusion and despair. He doesn't understand why he is being awoken by spring if there is still trouble in his life. In the final lines, "Demain, dans le vallon, viendra le voyageur,/Se souvenant de ma gloire première," which means "Tomorrow, in the valley, the traveler will come,/Remembering my first glory," the singer seems to be reflecting on better times in his life when he had glory and recognition.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pourquoi me réveiller" are very emotional, and the combination of the stirring melody and Pavarotti's powerful voice make for a truly moving performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Porquoi me réveiller, ó souffle du Printemps?
Why do you wake me, oh Spring breeze?
Porquoi me réveiller...
Why do you wake me?
Et pourtant bien proche est le temps...
Yet the time of storms and sadness is close by.
Des orages et des tristesses!
Of storms and sadness!
Porquoi me réveiller, ó souffle du Printemps?
Why do you wake me, oh Spring breeze?
Demain, dans le vallon, viendra le voyageur,
Tomorrow, in the valley, the traveler will come,
Se souvenant de ma gloire première
Remembering my past glory.
Contributed by Eli H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@serenajoyner2808
Pavorotti feels every word he sings, you can see it on his expression. He was truly a gift to humanity.
@zimatar489
Sublimely beautiful. Pavarotti's voice reaches sublime heights unmatched by any other Tenor. Bravissimo Pavarotti.
@orisaza4809
Extraordinaria interpretación!
@paulavasquez9883
Nunca houve e haverá uma voz como a dele...
@sanmaya5609
Sublime prestation il est génial ce n’est pas seulement une voix extraordinaire mais c’est aussi un sourire unique tellement attachant envoûtant un italien…Merci Divo
@user-gb4zw6rh3u
What a great singer. I can't understand the language but i feel the music and power of his voice, emotions.
@jhorgeneestiller9684
Pavarotti hits the highest notes effortlessly while others burst their lungs out. Truly the King of High C.
@annieamsaadi143
Morceau préféré de mes grands parents sublimement interprété !! On a des frissons
@levkornilov3174
Даже после смерти остался амбассадором оперного пения...
@stinky9675
The way Pavarotti just beams with excitement at the end shows how truly dedicated he is to the craft. That electricity is only felt by the truly passionate