Una furtiva lagrima
Negli occhi suoi spunt?
Quelle festose giovani
Invidiar sembr?
Che pi? cercando io vo?
M’ama, lo vedo
Un solo istante i palpiti
Del suo bel cor sentir
I miei sospir confondere
Per poco a' suoi sospir
Cielo, si pu? morir
Di pi? non chiedo
I had seen Luciano in La Boheme and la fille de regiment but I was too late purchasing tickets to a concert in Miami. At the last minute we were able to get tickets sitting behind him on stage.
The performance was marvelous and when he finished he said to his audience he wanted to sing to his other audience and turned to face the people behind him. Everyone started pleading for
their favorite aria as an encore and I said "una furtiva ". He smiled and nodded to the pianist accompanying him and after 2 chords I knew. Pavarotti singing una furtiva 4 feet in front of me.
And I knew if my life had ended then it would have ended on a high note.
We met Pavarotti in the Rome airport. He was standing by himself apparently waiting for someone and my wife, who cares little for celebrities approached Pavorotti and said how much she loved his music. He bowed, took her hand, kissed it and said, " My dear it gives me great pleasure to sing for you"......
Here is a man playing the finest musical instrument in the world, technically proficient and in tune with all human emotion. He knows this and gives and gives and gives. Still. Ah, Luciano!
The color and emotion in that remarkable voice makes him easily the most recognizable tenor. The century began with Caruso and ended with Pavarotti - it's doubtful opera will ever again be that blessed.
