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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 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 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 2020 19:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Music Played

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Friday Night Is Music Night Opening Sig Tune

  • Bonaventura Bottone & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    O Sole Mio

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra cb Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    RECONDITA ARMONIA

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra cb Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    LA MATTINATA

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    FUNICULI FUNICULA

  • Camilla Roberts, GarΓ°ar ThΓ³r Cortes & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    BRINDISI (LA TRAVIATA)

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    PRELUDE: ACT 1 - LA TRAVIATA

  • GarΓ°ar ThΓ³r Cortes & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Ah, Mes Amis

  • Camilla Roberts & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Manon Lescaut - opera in 4 acts

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    OVERTURE: LA FORZA DEL DESTINO

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    CARMEN PRELUDE ACT 1

  • Noah Stewart & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    THE FLOWER SONG ('CARMEN')

  • Bonaventura Bottone & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    TORNA A SURRIENTO

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo

  • GarΓ°ar ThΓ³r Cortes

    Caruso

  • Bonaventura Bottone & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    E La Solita Storia - Il Lamento De Frederico

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    LA DANZA

  • Noah Stewart & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    CHE GELIDA MANINA (LA BOHEME)

  • Camilla Roberts & Bonaventura Bottone & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    LOVE DUET - MADAM BUTTERFLY

  • Bonaventura Bottone, GarΓ°ar ThΓ³r Cortes, Noah Stewart & The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Nessun Dorma

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb. Johannes Wildner

    Friday Night Is Music Night Closing Sig Tune

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    O Sole Mio

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    Recondita Armonia

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    La Mattinata

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    Funiculi Funicula

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner, Camilla Roberts & GarΓ°ar ThΓ³r Cortes

    Brindisi(La Traviata)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Prelude Act I - La Traviata

    Conductor: Johannes Wildner.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Gardar Thor Cortes

    Ah Mes Amis(La Fille Du Regiment)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Camilla Roberts

    Manon Lescaut

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 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.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Jphannes Wildner

    Prelude - Act I - Carmen

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    The Flower Song - Carmen

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Bonaventura Bottone & Johannes Wildner

    Torna a Surriento

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    Intermezzo - Cavalleria Rusticana

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Gardar Thor Cortes

    Caruso

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Bonaventura Bottone

    E La Solita Storia - Il Lamento de Frederico

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Johannes Wildner

    La Danza

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner & Noah Stewart

    Che Gelida Manina(La Boheme)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner, Camilla Roberts & Bonaventura Bottone

    Love Duet(Madam Butterfly)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner, Bonaventura Bottone, Noah Stewart & Gardar Thor Cortes

    Nessun Dorma(Turandot)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Richard Balcombe

    Friday Night Sig (Friday Night Is Music Night)

Credit

Performer Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

Broadcasts

  • Fri 2 Oct 2015 20:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
  • Fri 12 Feb 2016 20:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
  • Sun 27 Sep 2020 19:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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