Pavarotti faked us all out

The start of the 2008 Olympic Games this week provides a good excuse for me to recycle an interesting anecdote from the last Olympiad - Torino 2006. There, the late, legendary opera singer Luciano Pavarotti gave his last public performance as part of the opening ceremonies, singing Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s opera Turandot (video below). It was a great moment and I’m grateful to have watched the broadcast. But I was surprised, as I’m sure many were, to later read in a Musical America news blurb that Pavarotti actually lip-synced the performance! It’s understandable, and as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t take anything away from the great singer’s legacy (for one thing, he was lip-syncing to a recording of his own magnificent voice). But especially when you realize that not only was Pavarotti faking it, the orchestra wasn’t really playing and the conductor wasn’t actually conducting, you have to admit, that was quite a sell job! Just for fun, here’s a bit from Musical America:

Pavarotti’s final performance was a pantomime. That is, he lip-synched “Nessun Dorma” at the televised opening of the Turin Winter Olympics in February, 2006, according to Leone Magiera, who reveals the ruse in his new book ”Pavarotti Visto da Vicino,” or “Pavarotti Seen from Up Close.” Magiera, a former pianist/conductor for the tenor, says the orchestra was faking it as well. “The orchestra pretended to play for the audience, I pretended to conduct and Luciano pretended to sing. The effect was wonderful.”

August 8, 2008 | Filed Under Opera, Culture, Videos 

Comments

2 Responses to “Pavarotti faked us all out”

  1. Joel Buursma on August 9th, 2008 11:55 am

    Sounds like it was pitched down a half step as well. I didn’t think that the high note sounded like a B natural, and my piano doesn’t either. Not that this is unheard of, particular for a tenor, but it’s worth mentioning.

    Also, from an opera enthusiast’s standpoint, a significant issue is that the performance is not a “Look how great he sounds even at that age” story. I think it’s always remarkable when an opera singer can still sound good after (a) decades of singing or (b) general advancement of years. I would hope that there wouldn’t have been too many people at that performance that would have been deceived in that regard. Perhaps most didn’t care & perhaps those that did could tell it wasn’t live.

  2. Italo Marchini on September 8th, 2008 8:22 pm

    In fact, it seems, it was the Olympic Committee reps who suggested the lip-synch. Pavarotti had turned down their request to sing a number of times previously. How was he to sing or an orchestra to play at night in February in the Italian Alps in sub-zero weather? The Olympic people suggested they all record it beforehand and “mime” for the TV cameras. Standard practice in the pop world, unfortunately, and not expected in classical. What does one expect from a 71 year old singer?

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