Customer Reviews

Pavarotti - The Last Tenor

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In "Pavarotti, The Last Tenor", viewers get a glimpse of the late singer's busy life of touring and performing, as well as times with his family and friends. Viewers will enjoy the intimate setting of him sitting down and sharing memories of his home life in Modena, how he got into the music business, various roles he has played in operas, and so forth. The DVD also includes several live performances in various locations. If you are looking to buy any Pavarotti DVD, this is it! It is a wonderful treat for a Pavarotti or opera fan!

After reading Joshua's review, I ordered this DVD, which was every bit as magnificent as reported ~ only moreso. Pavarotti's charming smile as he conveyed (and translated into English) his thoughts on his music and his family, sharing childhood memories, and discussing the development of his career was captivating. Seeing the actual video of Pavarotti as a young man, visiting the home in Modena where he was born, singing with his father, interviews with his soccer friends and his sister were especially touching. Watching his boyish playfulness as he recalled tender moments, or the incredible intensity and concentration when he reached those high C's, then watching him as he watched himself in early performances ... those eyes, that smile, that energy ... make me doubly happy that I bought this wonderful disk. We were also reminded of his annual Pavarotti and Friends concerts in Modena to raise funds benefiting the children of war-torn countries: he gave so much to this world. This man had such an immense heart, full of love, music and life, that while we weep for his loss, we cheer to have been blessed to have heard his voice in concert. He was the most superb tenor ever! I LOVED this man and I LOVE this DVD, documenting and honoring the Perfect Pavarotti. Bravo!

This DVD is superb. If you ever wondered about Luciano Pavarotti and loved his melodious tenor voice and the beautiful aria Nessun Dorma; you will find that Pavarotti is very much alive in this production and what a production it is.

I was literally spell bound. Michael Parkinson had interviewed this legend, Ian McKellen was the narrator and Francis Hanley and Adam Sweeting spent twelve months making this film and discovering amazing details about their subject's life and his roots in Modena, Italy which were very strong even till the end. The year that this production was made was the year Pavarotti's youngest daughter was christened, when he married his personal assistant Nicoletta Mantovani and he gave his farewell performance in New York City at the Met.

This was a BBC Arena film and it aptly captured a truly amazing portrait of a brilliant virtuoso at age 70. Sweeting and Hanly stated, "We wanted to explore the texture of Pavarotti's life as he contemplated the final phase of his career. We sat in his living room while he watched his favourite football team, Juventus, on TV, and tried to understand the rules of his favourite card game, Briscola. He talked about how much he owes his father, an enthusiastic amateur tenor, and discussed other great tenors of history. Even ten years wouldn't have been enough to find out everything about Pavarotti, but we got most of the answers we wanted."

Indeed they did. I have never seen such a wonderful intimate view of the man. They traced his life from its humble beginnings and that of his family; their roots, where he lived and we even saw a very touching duet performed by both father and son in Italy. I actually thought that his father was quite good and if the circumstances might have been different; he might have been a star himself though Pavarotti stated that his father was afraid of the stage. It did not appear that way in their duet.

There were performances of three of his most famous arias: Nessun Dorma (Turandot) on June 26, 1993 in Central Park, Addio alla madre (Cavalleria Rusticana) performed on June 9, 1993, Il Lamento di Frederico performed on April 29, 1991 as well as Ti Adoro and Il Canto from two music videos. Many performances were showcased throughout his career and these excerpts were well integrated throughout the DVD. Additionally, there were filmed personal interviews with Pavarotti on other singers including his idol Di Stephano; extra footage and interviews with Roberto Alagna as well as Bono.

There were many wonderful photos of the tenor as well as wonderful footage of Emilia Romagna and the Adriatic Coast. Po Valley, the Appenine Mountains. Pesaro, Modena, and of Pavarotti's birth location.

There is no way that anyone will be sleeping through this wonderful production. BBC really did a wonderful job and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoyed and listened to Pavarotti at any time in their life. It will be as if he were standing right there in your living room performing for just you.

From Turandot (Calaf):

No one shall sleep!
No one shall sleep!
You too, o Princess,
in your cold room
are watching the stars which
tremble with love and hope!
But my secret lies hidden within me,
no one will know my name!
No, no, I will reveal it
only on your lips,
when daylight breaks forth
and my kiss will break the silence
which makes you mine!

Bentley/2008

Anyone who is a fan of Pavarotti should enjoy this DVD. I rate it as an A+

"Pavarotti, the Last Tenor," provides the viewer with a unique opportunity to go "behind the scenes" and into the life of the century's biggest name in classical music. The commentary from Pavarotti's personal friends and family from Italy and various colleagues such as former manager, Herbert Breslin, Roberto Alagna, and Bono of U2 are especially interesting. Other documentaries about this prolific figure, of which there are many, have concentrated purely on the voice or the career of Luciano, but this DVD's subject is the last moment in the career as well as personal life of a superstar. You see and hear about all the events which made the tabloids and press including Pavarotti's second marriage to his secretary, Nicoletta Mantovani, the christening of their daughter, Alecia, and the onslaught of rhetoric proclaiming the "degredation" of Pavarotti's voice. To paraphrase former general director of the Metropolitan Opera, Joseph Volpe, I would have to agree "I would have rather heard Luciano on a bad day than most any other tenor on a good day." I especially enjoyed the special feaute on the DVD with a personal interview of just Luciano. He speaks about every tenor from Caruso and Gigli to di Stefano and Corelli to Lanza and Domingo to Alagna and Bocelli. For any lover of Luciano Pavarotti, the man and the voice, this is a perfect gift.

This is an excellent video on the career of the great Pavarotti. Highly recommended!!

I had the pleasure of meeting him on his farewell tour of Dublin last summer. He is as charming in person as he is on this video.