September 5, 2011

Something Wonderful: Nessun Dorma (Pavarotti, NY 1980)

When it comes to song and Pavarotti, everyone else in the world can just sit down.

For reasons obscure, filmic, youtubish, and temporal the visual quality of this piece gives it all a 19th century painterly look that only enhances the song and the singer.

Once upon a time in another life in another universe I was in a tony, noisy New York Restaurant late, late at night when Pavoratti came in dressed in a tux. The whole joint shut up as he made his way across the floor with a Spanish shawl wrapped around his commodious midriff. Here and there men and women stood up at their tables. As he brushed past my table my dinner companion leaned over and whispered to me, "He looks just like... just like... a Pavoratti." Indeed he did. Indeed he was.

HT: Ed @ Thunder Tales

Posted by Vanderleun at September 5, 2011 11:43 AM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Ah, the expression on his face at 2:27. He knows he has well-conquered this piece and will deliver a killing grace for the finale.

Mm-mmm-mmm.... exceptional.

Posted by: Joan of Argghh! at September 5, 2011 1:11 PM

Thank you.

Posted by: Bill at September 5, 2011 3:03 PM

That's something that makes me glad to be alive.

Posted by: Kerry at September 5, 2011 3:41 PM

I feel like a child, saying, "Again! Again! Again!"

Posted by: Jewel at September 5, 2011 4:59 PM

"I feel like a child, saying, "Again! Again! Again!"

Well let him go then, love, and listen to Pavarotti instead.

Posted by: Frank P at September 5, 2011 5:20 PM

I loved this. I played the recording so much that my young teenaged son would sing along with it in psychobabble Italian just to mock me. You shoulda heard him do the sobs in Vesti la giubba.

Posted by: Deborah at September 5, 2011 5:22 PM

I did, Frank, and was inspired to listen to other performances of his as well. A rainy night, well-spent.

Posted by: Jewel at September 5, 2011 6:50 PM

There is a singular rush of endorphins a singer experiences while singing well. I think that's what we see at 2:27...
There's no rush like it in the whole world.
One feels extremely powerful and strong.
And that is what the Great Pav felt just about every time he sang.

Posted by: Flyover Pilgrim at September 5, 2011 6:56 PM

Flyover Pilgrim,

Well said indeed. Instantly all the pain and loneliness and discouragement means nothing, and it's my turn; I am filled with both triumph and unspeakable gratitude.

Eat this, you hillbillies. I hope you like this, and if you don't you can leave. I am gonna sing now.

Whoosh.

Posted by: Rob De Witt at September 5, 2011 8:17 PM

I prefer his performance of the same piece recorded in 1994 in LA. Bravo!

Posted by: model_1066 at September 5, 2011 10:04 PM

I tried to link the DVD of the original Three Tenors concert in Rome in 1990 at the Rome Opera Theatre, conducted by Zubin Mehta. It was repeated recently on the Sky Arts Channel here recently. For some reason the link wouldn't post last night. Anyway it's available on You Tube if you search their site. For those of you who never saw it, you should. As fellow habitués of the blogsphere it is probably the nearest you'll ever get to heaven. Each of the four musicians inspired each other to heights that I doubt they ever reached before or after; it was a spontaneous burst of peerless talent and energy that left this old cynic completely enthralled and was worth a lifetime of Sky subscriptions. I have now recorded it for posterity. I should buy the DVD, but doubtless the record company will survive without my measley contribution to their coffers - and times is 'ard!

Posted by: Frank P at September 6, 2011 6:10 AM