Luciano Pavarotti

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Luciano Pavarotti was one of the Three Tenors, a trio that also included Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. The group's first concert in Rome in 1990 was conceived by Italian producer Mario Dradi, German producer Elmar Kruse, and British composer and producer Herbert Chappell. It was held to raise money for Carreras's foundation and to welcome Carreras back into opera after treatment for leukemia. Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the orchestra of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. According to FIFA, the image of three tenors in formal evening dress singing in a World Cup concert captivated the audience. The trio performed at three further World Cup Finals: 1994 in Los Angeles, 1998 in Paris, and 2002 in Yokohama. They also toured other cities worldwide, usually performing in stadiums or similar large arenas. Their last performance together was at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, on 28 September 2003. A reunion concert scheduled for 4 June 2005 in Monterrey, Mexico, was canceled because of Pavarotti's health problems; he was replaced by Mexican pop singer Alejandro Fernández.

Reader's Guide

Pavarotti's role in the Three Tenors brought him to a global audience. The trio's repertoire ranged from opera to Broadway to Neapolitan songs and pop hits. Their signature songs included "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's Turandot, usually sung by Pavarotti, and "'O sole mio", which all three tenors typically sang together. For the initial 1990 concert, Carreras, Domingo, and Pavarotti agreed to accept relatively small flat fees for recording rights, which they donated to charity. The album unexpectedly reaped millions in profits for Decca Records, causing resentment as the tenors officially received no royalty payments. Years later, Pavarotti's former agent Herbert Breslin wrote that Pavarotti had secretly received $1.5 million that the other two tenors did not receive. For subsequent concerts, the singers were much more careful in assuring financially advantageous contractual terms. In a joint interview, Pavarotti responded to complaints about their incomes: "We make the money we deserve. We're not forcing someone to pay us."

Did You Know?

• The Three Tenors' debut concert in Rome on 7 July 1990 was watched by a television audience of around 800 million.
• The recording of the 1990 concert became the best-selling classical album of all time, holding a Guinness World Record.
• For the 1990 concert, Pavarotti, Domingo, and Carreras agreed to accept relatively small flat fees for recording rights, which they donated to charity.
• Years later, Pavarotti's former agent Herbert Breslin wrote that Pavarotti had secretly received $1.5 million from Decca that the other two tenors did not receive.
• A Three Tenors reunion concert scheduled for 4 June 2005 was canceled because of Pavarotti's health problems; he was replaced by Mexican pop singer Alejandro Fernández.

Gallery