PAVAROTTI: MY WORLD

by Luciano with William Wright Pavarotti ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1995

A big serving of Luciano Lite, ladled out by the affable tenor in generous portions. Pavarotti and collaborator Wright have made a veritable industry out of the singer's life; this is their third ""as-told-to"" project, picking up the thread of Pavarotti's life story about 15 years ago. The Three Tenors concerts; Latin American tours; running the Philadelphia Vocal Competition; sponsoring a new international horse show; performing in exotic locales like China and Singapore are the highlights of the singer's recent life. The character that Pavarotti and Wright create in this memoir is unrelentingly upbeat, positive, and never bears a grudge; Wright describes him as a person of ""unwavering humanity . . . across-the-board compassion . . . [and] absence of rancor."" Although Pavarotti's larger-than-life personality dominates the book, some of the colorful characters who make up the operatic world also appear, particularly Hungarian-born promoter Tibor Rudas, who specializes in arranging grand-scale extravaganzas like Pavarotti's outdoor concert on Miami Beach. Pavarotti offers us brief portraits of the many famous people he has met, from Princess Diana (""so lovely, so kind, and so poised"") to Bruce Springsteen (""Like me, he appears to draw terrific energy from an audience""). Rumors of ill will between Pavarotti and his archrival Placido Domingo are quickly brushed aside (""We [are] completely friendly""), although there are no amusing anecdotes about Pavarotti spending his free time with Domingo, or indeed any other superstar singer. He reveals little tension or anxiety in his extended family (""My Wonderful Family,"" as one chapter titles them), even when he discusses a mysterious illness that plagued his youngest daughter. Coauthor Wright annoyingly inserts himself in the narrative as a character; Pavarotti is constantly commenting on ""Bill's"" presence, as if he were as important as the other characters. As light as a puff pastry, and as sugary sweet, but you'll be left hungry for more.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1995

ISBN: 0003450414

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1995

Categories: NONFICTION