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I went to Milan to art direct the photographing of Pavarotti in 86 for Polygram. Got lost backstage at La Scala carrying his costume for L'elisir d'amore. We needed the costume for the shoot. He didn't care for the soprano so he caught a 'cold' and cancelled. He controlled the shoot entirely. At the end he was very pleased and we all got together and took a group shot which I have framed in my home. It was a thrill to meet the 'luch'. Our campaign was a success.

I am now an opera fanatic with season tickets to the Met and I have Luciano Pavarotti who gave the the introduction to opera. Long before I had ever seen a live opera, I was enthralled by the sound of his warm, clear voice in recordings and live broadcasts from the Met on the radio.

Bravo, Luciano, bravo!

Some years ago I recall attending Tosca at the Met on Halloween night. I believe it was during Act I, immediately after Pavorotti finished "Recondita armonia" that James Levine motioned to the orchestra to begin again. Mr. Pavorotti looked at him as the music began again and pointing to himself in near disbelief mouthed to Mr. Levine "me". Mr. Levine nodded and so we were fortunate to hear the aria a second time; softer for sure but beautiful none the less.

As Mr. Levine stated afterwords "it was our trick and his treat."

I don't believe this (a mid-performance encore) had ever happened before in the history of the Met.

Maestro Pavarotti touched my heart with his music in a way that no singer has ever done.
My sadness at the loss of this great musical talent is heightened by the realization that it took his death to prompt WNYC to finally play some of his recordings.
It's ironic that the half hour tribute to Pavarotti comes during a week that the station has devoted much of its "classical" music programming to a composer who prefers random street noise to his own compositions.
I do as well.
Now we've had our half hour and the station can return to its regular programming of singers without voices, modern composers destined to be minor historical footnotes, and other aural assaults on long time listeners and members.
I'm grateful for the wonderful catalog of recordings he left behind.

As I listen to Pavorotti's glorious voice I am brought back in time to to a Sunday morning many years ago. I see my grandfather, my Poppy sitting in his favorite chair, eyes closed, enraptured by the music, "his Italian music" so much a part of who he was. He loved Caruso and when I introduced him to Pavarotti he loved him too. Sometimes we'd listen together and tears would roll down our cheeks.... What a lovely memory.. Bravisimo Luciano! Grazie!

Opening stanzas of a rough draft of a tribute to Pavarotti in shameless doggerel:

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FINAL CURTAIN FOR LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

'Ciao, Luciano'! You endured many swipes
About going “commercial” with your magnificent pipes.
But the last laugh goes to your 'amigos' and you,
For the thousands of new opera lovers – “Who knew?!?”

'Ciao, Signor' Pavarotti, our beloved Luciano!
You sang with purity and power – occasionally 'piano',
But more often 'forte' and 'fortissimo'.
Now you’ve exited stage right, for a place 'pianissimo'.

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Thank you so much for your tribute to Luciano. I was not an Opera buff, but friends turned me on to Luciano. How could one be human and not respond to that heat and voice? When you played "Nessu Dorma" I shed many tears, to know this great artist is no more. Thank you again. Even now my eyes blur.