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Pavarotti: Age 26 to 44

June 21, 2009 By Ian Sidden

The first video is from Luciano Pavarotti’s operatic debut as Rodolfo. One can hear that the audience understood that they were witnessing something great as they listened. Listen to what happens after he sings the high C near the end:

Next is Luciano 18 years later when he was around 44 years old:

Notice how his voice has changed. There is some essence that is his “Pavarotti” sound, but in the later video, he has obviously gained some ring, strength, and confidence. The older Pavarotti is also playing it safer in some spots (notice how the younger Pavarotti sings a pure “eh” on the Ab before the high C and the older Pavarotti sings an “uh” on the same note.)

I like both equally though. What do you think?

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Filed Under: Craft Tagged With: aging, Pavarotti

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Comments

  1. Sophia says

    August 28, 2009 at 2:30 am

    First of all, can I just say I’m in love with Pavarotti and this aria? Secondly, I’ve heard both of these recordings, before. With some singers, I tend to like certain periods of theirs more than others. However, with other singers like Pavarotti who had such a great vocal longevity, I tend to appreciate different recordings from different times for the different dimensions of the artistry. The first recording I love, because, I am so into hearing early, rare, and live recordings of singers. The passion, here, is that of a young person, finally singing where and what he is meant to sing. The sound is pure and there is that youthful audacity. The second recording is that of a veteran of the stage and of the role, returning to the comfort of the familiar aria and character. There are new dimensions present in it. Both are equally beautiful, for different reasons. And, p.s. I had noticed that excitement in the first recording, before you mentioned it, here. I totally agree. It was obvious, even then, that this voice and artist was very special, indeed.

  2. Everardo says

    January 6, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    al escuchar a Pavarotti, que encuentro genial las dos interpretaciones, De igual modo me gusta la versión de Bergonzi. Pienso que están a la mismp nivel o quizas mejor.

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