THE GREAT LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (3 CDs)

Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most acclaimed and popular Italian tenors of all time, died ten years ago in his hometown of Modena. The whole world mourned the loss one of its most cherished celebrities. Pavarottis unmistakable voice with its open Italianate sound and ringing upper register was ideal for the operas of Verdi, Bellini, Donizetti and Puccini, but also the popular Italian and other repertoire that he and his admirers revelled in. Combined with his generous, charismatic personality, his thrilling vocalism made him into an icon, as famous as the rock stars he loved to perform with. Pavarotti made only a handful of recordings for Sony Classical, but they occupy a unique place in his discography. An album of Verdi rarities, newly remastered from the original analog tapes, with Claudio Abbado conducting the Orchestra of La Scala, Milan, includes arias composed for Attila, Ernani and Les vepres siciliennes as well as a recently discovered cabaletta from I due Foscari and an early fragment from an uncompleted opera, Il solitario ed Eloisa. Gramophone acclaimed the release, praising the tenors remarkably polished renditions, always generous in provision of voice and spirit Fine performances, both vocal and orchestral. Another CD rarity is the live recording Luciano Pavarotti in Concert, which brought the great tenor to Modenas Piazza Grande on 14 August 1985 for his first-ever concert in his native city. Needless to say, it was a joyous occasion. Joined by the Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra of Emilia Romagna, conducted by Emerson Buckley, the international superstar serenaded his adoring fellow Modenesi with a programme of his greatest hits, including the most popular tenor arias from Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, Luisa Miller, La Bohème, Turandot, Fedora and Pagliacci plus, of course, such indispensable Italian songs as O sole mio, Torna a Surriento, Non ti scordar di me, Rondine al nido, Mamma and a heartfelt salute to Modena, Alla mia citta. In December 1999, Pavarotti was joined for a Christmas concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus by his great colleagues Plácido Domingo and José Carreras (they, as we all know, became the legendary Three Tenors when the world thrilled to their collaboration on the eve of the Word Cup Final at the Roman Baths of Caracalla on 7 July 1990). Accompanied by the Gumpoldskirchen Childrens Choir and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under Steven Mercurio, their classical, popular and traditional selections from that Vienna evening range from Adeste fideles / O Come, All Ye Faithful, O Tannenbaum and Silent Night to White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Amazing Grace and Pavarottis own composition, Ave Maria, dolce Maria.

- Disc 1 -
1 Simon Boccanegra: Prelude (Remastered) - Claudio Abbado
2 Ernani, Act II: Odi Il Voto, O Grande Iddio (Remastered) - Luciano Pavarotti
3 Attila, Act III: Oh Dolore! Ed Io Vivea (Remastered) - Luciano Pavarotti
4 Don Carlo, Act I: Io la Vidi (Remastered) - Luciano Pavarotti
5 I Due Foscari, Act I: Dal Più Remoto Esilio (Remastered) - Luciano Pavarotti
6 I Due Foscari, Act I: SÌ, Lo Sento, Iddio Mi Chiama (Remastered) - Luciano Pavarotti
7 Les Vêpres Siciliennes, Act IV: À Toi, Que J'ai Chérie (Remastered) - Luciano Pavarotti
8 Aida: Overture (Remastered) - Claudio Abbado

- Disc 2 -
1 Luisa Miller: Quando Le Sere Al Placido - Luciano Pavarotti
2 Lucia Di Lammermoor: Fra Poco a Me Ricovero - Luciano Pavarotti
3 Rigoletto: Questa O Quella - Luciano Pavarotti
4 Rigoletto: La Donna È Mobile - Luciano Pavarotti
5 La Bohème: Che Gelida Manina - Luciano Pavarotti
6 Mamma - Luciano Pavarotti
7 Rondine Al Nido - Luciano Pavarotti
8 Lolita - Luciano Pavarotti
9 Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - Luciano Pavarotti
10 Pagliacci: Vesti la Giubba - Luciano Pavarotti
11 Chitarra Romana (Roman Guitar) - Luciano Pavarotti
12 La Mia Canzone Al Vento - Luciano Pavarotti
13 Non Ti Scordar Di Me - Luciano Pavarotti
14 O Sole Mio - Luciano Pavarotti
15 Torna a Surriento - Luciano Pavarotti
16 Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti

- Disc 3 -
1 Cantique de Nöel (O Holy Night) - Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
2 Adeste Fideles - José Carreras / Luciano Pavarotti
3 Ave Maria, Dolce Maria - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
4 Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4 - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
5 O Tannenbaum - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
6 Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle - Luciano Pavarotti
7 Amazing Grace - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
8 White Christmas - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
9 Dormi, O Bambino - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
10 Silent Night - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
11 Pregaría (El Cant de L'ánima a la Verge) - José Carreras
12 Susani - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
13 Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
14 Wiegenlied, Op. 41, No. 1 - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
15 Carol of the Drum (The Little Drummer Boy) - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo
16 La Virgen Lava Pañales - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
17 I'll Be Home for Christmas - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
18 Sleigh Ride - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
19 Winter Wonderland - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
20 Un Nuevo Siglo - Plácido Domingo
21 Feliz Navidad - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
22 Let It Snow - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti
23 Jingle Bells - José Carreras / Plácido Domingo / Luciano Pavarotti