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.
Tosca E lucevan le stelle Puccini
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ed olezzava la terra
Stridea l'uscio dell'orto
E un passo sfiorava la rena.
Entrava ella fragrante,
Mi cadea fra la braccia.
O dolci baci, o languide carezze,
Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore.
L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!
E muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
Tanto la vita!
The lyrics to Luciano Pavarotti's "E lucevan le stelle" speak of a bittersweet moment of intense emotion and longing. The opening lines describe the beauty of the stars and the earth around the singer, evoking a sense of wonder and awe. However, the mood shifts quickly as the singer becomes aware of the approaching presence of a beloved, represented by the sound of footsteps on the sand. The scent of her entrance is noted, and she falls into his arms. At this point, the lyrics take on an even more passionate and intimate tone, with the singer reveling in the sensation of sweet kisses and tender caresses.
However, this moment is fleeting, and it is soon clear that the dream of love has vanished forever. The singer is left feeling desperate and lost, lamenting the passage of time and the fact that he never truly loved life until this moment, but now it is too late. The final lines of the song are repeated twice, emphasizing the sense of finality and despair that permeates the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
E lucevan le stelle,
And the stars were shining,
ed olezzava la terra
And the earth was sweet-smelling
stridea l'uscio dell'orto
The gate of the garden creaked
e un passo sfiorava la rena.
And a footstep brushed the sand.
Entrava ella fragrante,
She came in, fragrant,
mi cadea fra le braccia.
She fell into my arms.
O dolci baci, o languide carezze,
Oh, sweet kisses, languorous caresses,
mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
As I, trembling, uncovered her lovely form from its veils!
Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore.
My dream of love vanished forever.
L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!
The hour has fled, and I die in despair!
e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
And I die in despair! And I have never loved life more!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICK DODD, NICK PATRICK, GIACOSA PUCCINI, EVANS WYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind