The Classical Music Minute

Luciano Pavarotti, King of the High Cs

March 14, 2022 Steven Hobé, Composer & Host Season 1 Episode 46
The Classical Music Minute
Luciano Pavarotti, King of the High Cs
Show Notes Transcript

Description
Luciano Pavarotti was one of the most remarkable tenors of all time. Born into a humble working-class family, he attained worldwide fame, and eventually the honorific title of "King of the High Cs". Join me, as we take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Though praised for his voice, Pavarotti was often criticized for his inability to read music well and was unpopular with conductors due to telling them the correct tempo he believed was appropriate.

About Steven
Steven is a Canadian composer living in Toronto. He creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his website for more.

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Got a topic? Pop me off an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 

Support the show

Luciano Pavarotti grew up in a humble family–his father a baker and amateur tenor, his mother a factory worker. 

After abandoning the dream of becoming a football goalkeeper, Pavarotti spent seven years in vocal training. At the time, he held part-time jobs including a school teacher and then insurance salesman. Who knew…

He had a few recitals, all in small towns and without pay. But when a nodule developed on his vocal cords he decided to give up singing and turned his attention elsewhere. 

Yet, his voice improved. Pavarotti credited his recovery to the emotional and psychological release of having made the decision to quit. He said, "Everything I had learned came together with my natural voice to make the sound I had been struggling so hard to achieve".

With his newfound determination, he landed a debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohéme. From there it was literally onward and upward, with a career that gained him worldwide fame, and eventually the honorific title, "King of the High Cs".