Luciano Pavarotti (October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007)

"At dawn, I shall win!"---from "Nessun dorma"

Picture credit

"The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."--Terri Robson, Pavarotti's manager

Luciano Pavarotti sings Schubert's Ave Maria. Read Wikipedia's description of Schubert's much-loved song here.

Pavarotti sings his signature song, Puccini's Nessun Dorma. Read the Wikipedia description of the aria from the opera Turandot here. The New York Metropolitan Opera has pictures and music from Turandot here.

The famous tenor sings Donizetti's Una furtiva Lagrima .

"Una Furtiva Lagrima (A furtive tear) is the romanza taken from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera, L'elisir d'amore. It is sung by Nemorino (tenor) when he finds that the love potion he bought to win his dream lady’s heart, Adina, works. Nemorino is in love with a rich lady, Adina, but she isn't interested in a relationship with a poor man. To win her heart, Nemorino buys a “love potion” with all the money he has in his pocket. The “love potion” is actually a cheap red wine sold by a con business traveler. But when he sees Adina crying, he knows that she has fallen in love with him and the “Elixir” works!" (Wikipedia)

Translation in English:

A sullen and secretive tear
That started there in her eye...
Those socialising bright young things
Seemed to provoke its envy...
What more searching need I do?
She loves me, that I see.
For just one moment the beating
Of her hot pulse could be felt!..
With her sighing confounding
Momentarily my sighs!...
Oh God, I shall expire;
I can't ask for more.

Read Wikipedia on Pavarotti's life and career, his New York Times obituary and more Pavarotti articles from the New York Times.

Here is an article from the New York Times that reviews CDs and DVDs of Pavarotti's performances.