Zubin Mehta, Luciano Pavarotti & Joan Sutherland - Puccini Turandot - 1972 [Remastered] (2014)

“Sutherland gives an intensely appealing interpretation, while Pavarotti gives a performance equally imaginative. Mehta directs a gloriously rich and dramatic performance. Still the best-sounding Turandot on CD.”
“This recording…works for me on every level. Of course you get Pavarotti singing Nessun dorma at his lyrical best, but more importantly than that, Montserrat Caballé sings Liù, showing off her famed pianissimo to great effect at the end of Signore, ascolta. Finally, as a bonus bit of luxury casting, Peter Pears takes the small role of Turandot's father, Emperor Altoum.”

Arguably no other opera singer in music history achieved the same level of international celebrity as tenor Luciano Pavarotti; his voice — robust, resonant, and immediately recognizable — launched him into the stratosphere of household recognition usually reserved for pop stars and Hollywood icons, and in the process spurred opera itself on to new peaks of mainstream popularity. Born in Modena, Italy, on October 12, 1935, as a boy he enjoyed local fame as a member of the town's soccer team, and first sang in the chorus with his father, himself a fine amateur tenor and devoted opera buff. After the chorus won first prize in an international competition, the young Pavarotti's future was cemented: his solo debut came in 1961, portraying Rodolfo in a performance of La Boheme at the opera house in Reggio Emilia. His early success led to engagements throughout Italy and eventually Amsterdam, Vienna, Zurich, and London; Pavarotti's American debut came in February 1965, in a Miami production of Lucia di Lammermoor with Joan Sutherland (the first of their many pairings).

History suggests that the Pavarotti phenomenon began in earnest on February 17, 1972 during a performance of La Fille du Regiment at New York's Metropolitan Opera; after his effortless completion of an aria containing nine high Cs, the audience erupted in prolonged applause, and his stardom was assured. In the years to follow, Pavarotti essayed the roles of Arturo, Massenet's Des Grieux, Alfredo, the Duke, and Nemorino; as his voice darkened and grew, he also appeared as Manrico, Ernani, Radames, Calaf, and Otello. In 1977, Pavarotti reprised the role of Rodolfo for the premiere episode of the long-running Live at the Met television series, going on to appear in over a dozen broadcasts from the Lincoln Center; his entire stage repertory eventually reached record, and he also sold millions of copies of his solo albums of opera arias, traditional music, and holiday favorites. Pavarotti's live performances included many stadium dates, as well as numerous other attention-grabbing spectacles; additionally, some of his greatest success was achieved in the company of Placido Domingo and José Carreras, performing together as the Three Tenors. Pavarotti's last performance came at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where he sang a typically poignant and powerful rendition of "Nessun Dorma" to an adoring crowd. On 6 September 2007, the world lost one of the greatest voices of all-time as Luciano Pavarotti lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and sadly passed away at the age of 71.

Tracklist:

01. Sabin Markov, Luciano Pavarotti, Nicolai Ghiaurov, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - Popoli di Pekino!
02. Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - Gira la cote!
03. Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - O giovinetto! Grazia, grazia!
04. Nicolai Ghiaurov, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Pier Francesco Poli, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - Figlio, che fai?
05. Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, Luciano Pavarotti, Nicolai Ghiaurov, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - Fermo! Che fai? T’arresta!
06. Montserrat Caballe, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - Signore, ascolta!
07. Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 1 - Non piangere Liu!
08. Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Ola, Pang! Ola, Pong!
09. Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Ho una casa nell’Honan
10. Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - O mondo, O mondo
11. London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Introduzione
12. The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Gravi, enormi ed impotenti
13. Peter Pears, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Un giuramento atroce mi costringe
14. Sabin Markov, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Popolo di Pekino
15. Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - In questa reggia
16. Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Peter Pears, Montserrat Caballe, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Straniero, ascolta
17. Joan Sutherland, Peter Pears, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Gloria, gloria, o vincitore
18. Luciano Pavarotti, Peter Pears, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 2 - Tre enigmi m’hai proposto
19. The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Introduzione. Cosi comanda Turandot
20. Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Nessun dorma!
21. Tom Krause, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Nicolai Ghiaurov, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Principessa divina!
22. Montserrat Caballe, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Tu che di gel sei cinta
23. Nicolai Ghiaurov, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Liu! Liu! Sorgi! Sorgi!
24. Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Principessa di morte!
25. Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Che e mai di me?
26. Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Del primo pianto
27. Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - So il tuo nome!
28. Joan Sutherland, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta - Act 3 - Diecimile anni al nostro Imperatore