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Pavarotti's Greatest Hits

Sunday Night is Music Night celebrates the songs and life of the baker's son from Modena who became one of the world's greatest tenors - Luciano Pavarotti.

Sunday Night is Music Night celebrates Pavarotti's Greatest Hits.

Luciano Pavarotti was born 80 years ago on the 12th October 1935. Tonight Paul Gambaccini pays tribute to the most famous tenor of the modern opera era.

Luciano's father Fernando was the town baker and keen amateur singer whilst his mother Adele worked in the local cigar factory. Luciano grew up listening to his father's record collection - Caruso, Gigli and Schipa and was also influenced by the films of Mario Lanza. He made his first visit to the UK when he and his father took part in the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen as part of Corale Rossini - they took first prize. Luciano was just 20 years old.

As a youngster music was just one of his many ambitions. He also wanted to play in goal for his beloved Juventus FC and he was a skilled player in his youth. He held down many different jobs before turning to music - farming, teaching and insurance salesman. His opera career took off in the early 60s and he enjoyed a long collaboration with Dame Joan Sutherland and soprano Mirella Freni and a friendly rivalry with fellow opera tenors Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo. In 1990 an unbelievable event took place. The three tenors shared the same stage for a gala concert on the eve of the World Cup Final in Italy. The recording of the concert became the biggest selling classical record of all time.

Tonight, our Sunday Night tenors Bonaventure Bottone, Noah Stewart and Gardar Thor Cortez recall the songs that Pavarotti made famous including O Sole Mio, Che Gelida Manina, Torna a Surriento and, of course, Nessun Dorma. Soprano Camilla Roberts is on hand for the Love Duet from Madam Butterfly and the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by its guest principal conductor Johannes Wildner feature intermezzi and overtures associated with the Great Pavarotti.

First broadcast in October 2015

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Sun 27 Sep 202019:00
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Friday Night Is Music Night Opening Sig Tune

  • Bonaventura Bottone & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    O Sole Mio

  • BBC Concert Orchestra cb Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    RECONDITA ARMONIA

  • BBC Concert Orchestra cb Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    LA MATTINATA

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    FUNICULI FUNICULA

  • Camilla Roberts, Garðar Thór Cortes & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    BRINDISI (LA TRAVIATA)

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    PRELUDE: ACT 1 - LA TRAVIATA

  • Garðar Thór Cortes & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Ah, Mes Amis

  • Camilla Roberts & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Manon Lescaut - opera in 4 acts

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    OVERTURE: LA FORZA DEL DESTINO

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    CARMEN PRELUDE ACT 1

  • Noah Stewart & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    THE FLOWER SONG ('CARMEN')

  • Bonaventura Bottone & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    TORNA A SURRIENTO

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo

  • Garðar Thór Cortes

    Caruso

  • Bonaventura Bottone & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    E La Solita Storia - Il Lamento De Frederico

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    LA DANZA

  • Noah Stewart & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    CHE GELIDA MANINA (LA BOHEME)

  • Camilla Roberts & Bonaventura Bottone & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    LOVE DUET - MADAM BUTTERFLY

  • Bonaventura Bottone, Garðar Thór Cortes, Noah Stewart & The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Nessun Dorma

  • The BBC Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Friday Night Is Music Night Closing Sig Tune

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    O Sole Mio

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    Recondita Armonia

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    La Mattinata

  • BBC Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    Funiculi Funicula

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner, Camilla Roberts & Garðar Thór Cortes

    Brindisi(La Traviata)

  • BBC Concert Orchestra

    Prelude Act I - La Traviata

    Conductor: Johannes Wildner.

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Gardar Thor Cortes

    Ah Mes Amis(La Fille Du Regiment)

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Camilla Roberts

    Manon Lescaut

  • BBC Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    Overture - La Forza Del Destino

  • Luciano Pavarotti

    Che Gelida Manina(La Boheme)

    • The First Decade.
    • DECCA.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Elton John

    Like Horses

    • The Big Picture.
    • Rocket.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Bryan Adams

    O Sole Mio

    • Pavarotti and Friends.
    • DECCA.

  • Passengers

    Miss Sarajevo (feat. Luciano Pavarotti)

    • The Best Of U2: 1990-2000.
    • Island.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Eric Clapton

    Holy Mother

    • Pavarotti and Friends.
    • DECCA.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Eurythmics

    There Must Be a Angel

    • Pavarotti and Friends.
    • DECCA.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Mariah Carey

    When a Hero Comes Along

    • Pavarotti and Friends.
    • DECCA.

  • Billy Joel

    Stiletto

    • Pavarotti and Friends.
    • DECCA.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Spice Girls

    Viva Forever

    • Pavarotti and Friends.
    • DECCA.

  • Luciano Pavarotti & Frank Sinatra

    My Way

    • Duets.
    • Capitol.

  • BBC Concert Orchestra & Jphannes Wildner

    Prelude - Act I - Carmen

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    The Flower Song - Carmen

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Bonaventura Bottone & Johannes Wildner

    Torna a Surriento

  • BBC Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    Intermezzo - Cavalleria Rusticana

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Gardar Thor Cortes

    Caruso

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    E La Solita Storia - Il Lamento de Frederico

  • BBC Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    La Danza

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    Che Gelida Manina(La Boheme)

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner, Camilla Roberts & Bonaventura Bottone

    Love Duet(Madam Butterfly)

  • BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner, Bonaventura Bottone, Noah Stewart & Gardar Thor Cortes

    Nessun Dorma(Turandot)

  • BBC Concert Orchestra & Richard Balcombe

    Friday Night Sig (Friday Night Is Music Night)

Credit

PerformerBBC Concert Orchestra

Broadcasts

  • Fri 2 Oct 201520:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Fri 12 Feb 201620:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Sun 27 Sep 202019:00
    BBC Radio 2

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