Marking the 40th anniversary of winning a singing competition as part of a choir from his hometown of Modena in 1955, Luciano Pavarotti keeps a long-held promise and returns to the small town in North Wales to give a very special gala concert at the 1995 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.Joining Pavarotti that evening is the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leone Magiera, the modern day Corale Gioachino Rossini, Modena, directed by Paolo Rossini, and, for the finale, Japanese soprano Atzuko Kawahara.The program combines popular operatic arias and choruses, Neapolitan songs, one of Pavarotti’s own compositions, orchestral overtures and interludes, and a very special duet for the finale.The final moments of an unforgettable event are made all the more emotional by the singer’s deeply moving departing words.“You don’t know what this is for me, what it is for me to try to concentrate for myself tonight, in what I am doing, with my music – while a million of memories come to my mind.For forty years, I was looking for this day.thank you for the beautiful night that you gave to me.”
Tracks:
Luciano Pavarotti, Atzuko Kawahara, Rossini Choir, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Leone MagieraGiuseppe Verdi: The Festive Furnishings & Va pensiero from Nabucco; Die quella pra from Il Trovatore; Ah! The Father's Hand from Macbeth; Toast to La Traviata+Pietro Mascagani: Farewell to the Mother & Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana+Agustin Lara: Granada+Giacomo Puccini: Among You Beauties & Woman I Never Saw from Manon Lescaut+Gioachino Rossini: Semiramide Overture+Ruggero Leoncavallo: Mattinata+Jacob Handl: In Nomine Jesu+Gabriele Sibella: La Girometta+Ernesto di Curtis: Forget Me Not+Cesare Andrea Bixio: My Song to the Wind+Vittoriano Benvenuto: Ave Maria, dolce Maria+Eduardo di Capua: O sole mio
