Luciano Pavarotti - Parmi veder le lagrime - Live 1971

[our2howdy]

Good lord... this is perfection. I haven't heard a finer rendition, even from him.

[ywn3]

Absolutely gorgeous!!! Sound better than ever.

[puciccio]

GRANDE...GRANDISSIMO...IMMENSO­!!!!

[clifton86]

Ah! Bel Canto!!!

[steinway1901]

I have not read all the comments but just before the Bb near the end there is an edit, so one can't really hear how he handled that phrase.

[Mooorhe]

An edit?

[steinway1901]

It sounds like the live performance was enhanced. Isn't there a blip before the last "gl'angeli" before the cadenza?

[Nater389]

You're wrong. Listen to the 1966 version of this and you'll hear clearly, when he was younger he could literally launch into the notes in a special way. Listen to that version and you will see what I mean. Pavarotti, 1966, Rome, Parmi veder le lagrime, listen.

[Honken]

Unless his voice can magically erase the reverb from the entire theatre, it was edited. I'm not saying that he didn't project that note, just that something is wrong with the tape since there's complete silence before the Bb.

It's a shame because he wasn't at his best that night, but I still think that it's the best recording that showcases his amazing squillo and sheer power.

Viva Pavarotti! :)

[Nater389]

It's at 4:32-33.

[TraVoiBelle]

When he says "angeli" at 2:07 I have the feeling that I'll fly

[CanadaPisces]

Thank you for making this video available. It was my pleasure to hear Pavarotti perform during this time period. Unfortunately,no recordings of his "golden period" are able to fully capture the beauty of his voice as experienced in live performances.

[Mooorhe]

You're very lucky indeed, what did you see him in?

[novice1959]

Oh my...this is fabulous! What a great voice he had in his younger days, so strong and clear! Can someone tell me, since I'm just learning about voice types, why Pavarotti is considered to be a lyric tenor and not a spinto tenor? His voice just seemed so incredibly powerful...

[dolicimani]

Every voice if it is balanced will be powerful. Juan Diego Florez is a Leggero Tenor which is the lightest of tenors but it is still incredibly powerful. It is that narrow sound of the chords closing without stress that is creating the power. Surrounding that narrow sound is the sort of meat of the voice for want of a better word and this determines the weight of the voice. Pav's voice was relatively light. Compare it to Domingo who is a spinto and Corelli who is a full on dramatic tenor.

[novice1959]

Thanks for your reply!

[Mooorhe]

Yes, as stated above, the easiest way to compare is listen to other tenors. The spinto tenors generally have 'darker' voices with heavier vocal weight and would generally be much louder in the opera house. This weight and darkness cannot be replicated unless you possess it. It is entirely natural. Immitation of a heavier voice when you possess a lighter one leads to vocal decline, as was the case with Carreras, later Pavarotti, Alagna and many others.

[Mooorhe]

Pavarotti had a rather light voice (he was very capable of singing some Bellini, all Donizetti, light Verdi and lightest Puccini very well). Carreras was a tad heavier than Pavarotti, I don't think it was actually all that much of a difference. I think he sang so many heavy roles too early.

[novice1959]

Thank you...I think this helps me understand a bit better!

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

I do not think Pavarotti's voice declined in the sense you indicated while I agree with Carreras and Alagna. Pava's voice darkened with age and due to his superb technique he was able to sing heavier roles with a lyric touch. He sounded pleasant for much longer period of time. Carreras and Alagna has only 7-8 or so good years. Neither of them possessed a technique remotely close to Pava's. Same applies to vocal range. Pava's range was secure up to Bb well into the late 90s.

[sospello]

Often what helps a voice carry whatever the classification is the amount of ring or"squillo" it has--for example, Florez has a tremendous amount of this quality for a light tenor and so is audible and seems more powerful than some tenors in the leggero or tenore di grazia category without this quality or with squillo only in the high register of the voice.

[macciboma]

Grazie Lesley di avermi proposto questo bel

brano. Con Pavarotti grande interprete un p'ò

sottovalutato a mio avviso. Saluto.

[golfr10under]

i agree. "weight" of voice is also physiological. Juan Diego is a very "slight" man. he is short in stature and is skinny. Domingo, Corelli, Giacomini, Martinucci....all were bigger in body size then a Juan Diego type person. of course there are exceptions to every rule but usually, a big person is going to have a sizable voice.

[marcherst]

He's wonderful. Thanks for uploading.