Luciano Pavarotti - Ah mes amis! (Live at Covent Garden)

Well, I promised some of you I'd try to speed this up to the correct pitch, so here it is. Enjoy...NOW it sounds like Pavarotti! I can't believe how stupid some people are, thinking that other recording was in the correct speed. Get a new pair of ears people. Anyone with the slightest degree of sense would be able to pick out the problem immediately. To quote Stefan Zucker from the Bel Canto Society, "If you don't get the speed right, not only is the sound off pitch but it is also off in timbre, or sonority." Not only does Pavarotti sound better now, his notes stand out more than in the one played at the wrong speed. Anyway, this truly is a sensational performance. Young Pavarotti in all his glory. His Covent Garden performances of 'Fille' were even better than the ones he did at the Met, in my opinion. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, UK, 1967.

[@giovannimedini2091]

Pavarotti in the years 1966/1978 ...: the best of the best !!!!

[@fredericklasker2677]

I for one actually saw the opera at the Met with Luciano and Sutherland. I really felt like she was goosing him for each of the 9 high C's which he managed with style and excellence. He definitely set the standard for all tenors to follow and attempt excellence! Pavarotti was the absolute king of the high C's and hankerchief... We've lost a giant!!!.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I agree with you

[@Redboy4]

Frederick Lasker You are quite lucky to have been there.

[@fanaledka]

I am agree too!!! Pavarotti is giant!!! Only he made in "Crudere" of "Puritani" what nobody did not make else now...

[@JamesWilliams-ki7im]

Goosing? What do you mean? Thanks. 😃

[@shirleyrombough8173]

You are so right in your praise of Pavarotti. He looked so cute without the facial hair. I wonder how his career would have fared without it. Well, unlike Samson he probably didn't need it for his power. (I still say he was cuter without it).

[@sopranosd]

To take such big sound up high is incredible. And with perfect ping!

[@barrynicolle1821]

I was at CoventGarden on two of those nights and can well remember the audience, there was a sort of astonished silence at the first high C and then it was as though they couldn’t wait for the end, the whole house erupted, cheering and shouting , stamping their feet, just like Joan’s first Lucia.. You must remember that not many people knew La Fille du Regiment then, and Pavarotti was not yet the superstar he became, and not everyone knew of him.

[@kevinbraden798]

Thank you Barry for that insight on an incredible night in opera history.

[@LiveArtistVocal1]

Four dislikes? This is perfection!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM?????

[@JohnDavidDunlap]

They are Jussi Björling fans.

[@valasina2015]

There are always those people who think they will look important if they say there are "defects" in the performances of great artists. For them, there's always going to be something.

[@tenor001]

there seem to be people that don't realise that there are different kinds of tenors... and Pavarotti well he's no del Monaco and Corelli, and for sure no florez haha

[@valasina2015]

@@tenor001 Pavarotti: King of the High Cs; Tenor of the Line!

[@philippaldowieser1942]

It could be a little bit more legato, but the colour is amazing. Unlike Florez, the voice sounds full and round and big. Really amazing.

[@puccinislarondine]

As I've mentioned to friends and opera virgins that I try to convert using this song- there is something SO infectious and absolutely astounding about hearing him flip out these high "C's" with such abandon and clarity. It gives me chills every time. I was lucky enough to meet the maestro back in 1985 after Tosca at the MET and it will live in my memory as one of the best moments I've ever experienced. Luckily, his voice will never be silenced. :)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

How thrilling it must have been to hear him as Cavaradossi. Do you remember who was Tosca and who was Scarpia? I truly wish I had been there.

[@Piotr_Szyba]

You've gotta totally abandon throat as a voice placement and push the voice forward to hard palate. It's a totally different worldmand totally different type of the voice emission, so if you've started singing from the throat, you'll never make it to spinto. Sorry.

[@mariaruskova6054]

Mamma mia, what a voice! Pure gold! How can you not love him❤

[@dee1153]

That is what I love so much about Pav's voice... the urgency of it. Listening to him is the ultimate thrill. He is perfection.

[@nickichase]

Liquid gold.

[@robloxstars111]

why?

[@antonioalvarado6489]

Souvenir émouvant ! J'entendais Luciano Pavarotti pour la première fois, en 1969, dans cette version. J'étais à Rouen et je me rendais au Théâtre des Arts pour préparer une représentation dont mes Amis Paulette Merval et Marcel Merkès étaient les vedettes; ce dimanche matin, j'allume mon auto radio et ce fut le choc !!! Le timbre de sa voix est resté gravé à jamais dans ma mémoire. Quel que soit le répertoire, c'est toujours un régal !

[@SuperDaveOkie]

In my opinion, this ends all arguments about the greatest tenor of the recording era.

[@pumpupjam9648]

Never in this system of things will we hear a voice like his. Only in the new system we all will!

[@janetkenny1974]

Yes that sounds real. I was there. Wonderful!!

[@tenore8]

Brilliant in every way!!

[@photo161]

I remember so well the first time I heard Pav singing this in a Met broadcast. Nothing like it had ever been heard before... all those high C's one after the other, each perfectly placed and astoundingly brilliant,... I kept thinking, OMG he's going to shatter his voice...Well here we are, and it's still as exciting as ever after all these years.

[@lesleywilbourne7823]

Woah the last one sets my scalp tingling. Miss you Pav - thank God for recordings

[@bravaLiz]

Actually he always credited Sutherland for mentoring him in the art of bel canto. However, if you want to hear the MOST sensational, I suggest you find his live performance recording from 1972. The MET was on tour and of all places, toured and performed in Louisiana, USA. The most perfect "Pour mon ame" I have ever heard.

[@keith.pierson4243]

+bravaLiz I attended three of those Met performances. He was excellent but I loved her.

[@giovannimedini2091]

You are wright 1972 super @

[@absdyna]

He credited her with helping him with his breathing. As for bel canto he was already quite proficient since he was from the old Italian school. None of that inaudible 'modern bel canto' propagated by Bonygnge and his ilk.

[@Tkimba2]

@@absdyna bonynge doesn't propagate inaudible singing... Wtf u talking about?

[@brodybrown8621]

His high notes are spectacular

[@brentmarshall928]

Class, pure class. Power, tone...everything.

[@2pietribiasi]

For Ever Maestro Luciano Pavarotti... Único e incomparable! Voz de voces, ojalá pueda conocerte en alguna otra vida!!

[@charis337]

i can almost picture sunshine beaming out of his mouth everytime he belts out high c's. just brilliant!

[@hailemenelick]

Impresionante técnica, gran manejo de los tiempos... sin duda de los mejores tenores de todos los tiempos. Bravo... bravisimo.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

Wonderful photos of Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland. They really sang wonderfully together.

[@jean-pierrepriolau1101]

Le roi du belcanto! Malgré tous les superbes et magnifiques ténors d’hier et d’aujourd’hui, il les surpasse tous, sans effort, sans orgueil, avec sa simplicité, sa facilité, sa virtuosité vocale et ce don de nous remplir de joie et d’émerveillement lorsqu’on l’écoute. Merci, encore et toujours Luciano!!!!

[@uncjim]

Mind Blowing..just BRILLIANT.

[@ricardop.dealecsandris7924]

Una excepcional interpretación de Pavarotti que lo consagró como uno de los mas grandes tenores de todas las épocas. Para escuchar una y otra vez; La magistral interpretación de Alfredo Kraus y ésta revalorizan aquello de que la voz humana es el instrumento musical más perfecto

[@verouschkafreixaspintaryvi9922]

Una voz balsámicas como pocas y que se dan una vez cada cien años. Un verdadero Inmortal

[@roosterrooter13]

Singing at its absolute finest.

[@JonMorlow]

Thank you for sharing this. That even and full-bodied sound, wow. So pleasant to the ears. Wish I had been there to have heard and seen this live. Bless you, Maestro Pavarotti.

[@tenorschofield]

Bravissimo!!!

[@globalman]

Many years since I have heard this. I’d forgotten how astonishingly brilliant and literally breathtaking he was. He and Sutherland were a tremendous pair. The tragedy is our present technology arrived to record for all time the mediocrity and sloppiness of all the arts. The perfection and magnificence of live performances and the genius of those between 1940’s - 1970’s is lost for all time other than poor quality video clips and pirate recordings. How tragic for culture and younger generations who only know, accept and believe what they hear and see the past decades and today is the best there is.

[@elkegoldberg5733]

Er singt einfach fantastisch!!

[@giovannimedini2091]

You are wright ...this is the best!!!

[@cherubello9340]

Entusiasmante interprete, suono bellissimo e perfetto. Nel suo repertorio era una stella luminosissima. Non ricordo una voce così ricca di armonici, sonora, squillante e gioiosa, allegra e amorosa. Qui era il numero 1, grande Luciano!!!!

[@Mooorhe]

This video confirms my views that he was THE greatest Lyrical tenor. Needless to say that this video is going straight onto my favourites. Words can't describe how great he was. My body tingles as he sings those high C's, I can hardly move. On the last high C, tingles went up and down my body and tears come to my eyes. BRAVO PAVAROTTI!

[@williammountfield8508]

Personally I can’t say Pavarotti was the greatest lyric tenor Bjorling exists after all but he certainly was good

[@CotaDangelo]

Yes, you are right! This is a much better performance than that one of the Met ´72. The high notes are perfect here!!! The best "Ah mes amis!" I´ve ever heard... Thank you for sharing this!

[@Mooorhe]

What a fabulous recollection, thank you for sharing, must have been incredible.

[@MusicalTenor23]

Thanks for Posting this Ted. Regards! =)

[@BulentBezduzOfficial]

Prince of the tenor....

[@MariaGarcia-ks6uo]

king

[@Saudade341]

A imortalidade deveria ser o prémio por nos proporcionar tanta felicidade !

[@massimilianostrufaldi7089]

"Tutto il resto è noia..." in quel periodo veramente numero uno, insuperabile per agilità e timbro in questo repertorio.

[@andreaberton3684]

Quel periodo… direi dalla fine degli anni Sessanta fino alla fine degli anni 80... almeno un ventennio in cui è stato inarrivabile. Poi è stato "soltanto" fenomenale… ma purtroppo tutti invecchiamo

[@vorspiel1023]

Truly glorious.His infectious joy in singing( as mentioned by puccinislarondine) was always a joy to the heart. I was privileged to heav heard him March 4, 1978 in recital at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, just Luciano and a piano. It was absolute magic and never to be forgotten. The voice was in great shape stil, and his Nessum Dorma, at the end, left me and many others weeping for the sheer beauty of the most beautiful voice we had ever hear live. It is memory I always treasure.

[@yolandasanchez2836]

una maravilla !!!!!

[@pabloramirez8941]

si pero la voz de andrea bocelli es mas dulce

[@yolandasanchez2836]

es cien mil veces mas grandiosa y bella la voz de Pava, por favor no comparemos un monumento con un apartamento en la playa

[@bellini7verdi]

+Yolanda Sanchez mejor no lo podias haber expresado......................perfecto...........como me gustan estas expresiones....que definen en dos palabras.......el mundo que nos rodea...................

[@isaacmarqueznar]

las voces no son para ser comparadas, sino apreciadas, los dos son tenores pero distintos, y cada uno tiene su repertorio

[@Gmat1960]

His language skills were rubbish, but everything else is total perfection. The quality of those high Cs belong in heaven. Ciao Maestro!!

[@singermanz]

Gmat1960 his language skills in every language BUT Italian. He was the Italian diction MASTER.

[@liberte5847]

Un ténor hors pair, une grande justesse de ton et une PUISSANCE incomparable! Merci pour vos souvenirs émouvants et vécus de l'intérieur! MERCI BEAUCOUP.

[@MrMin316]

The golden duo...La Stupenda! and Pavarotti.

[@MrDiabo76]

Impressionante.

[@dercrimson87]

1:02 i can literally see in front of my inner eye the people moving in their seats because of disbelief of what they just heard^^

[@baculkar]

Thank you for everything Meastro Pavarotti!!! Your voice have a medic power. Long Live King of High C!!!

[@pavarotti744]

no expertise necessary to judge the merits of that brilliance, just a pair of ears.

[@Bee8837]

Thanks for the memory! I was there (if not the performance in this cut, then another in that 1967 CG series), and the memory of his spine-chilling ping--the incredible focus of that sound--stayed with me during his whole career, no matter how off course things got.

[@rosabelluscio3864]

Gracias. Muy bueno

[@tenorschofield]

Bravoooo!!!!

[@ingridenglitsch3840]

Hallo, wie gehts. Haben mal über Mc Cracken und Vinay geplaudert.

[@tenorschofield]

I don't speak well german,but I like very much Vinay and McCraken,both are great!!!

[@ingridenglitsch3840]

All best for you. My english is not good. But il love Vinay and Nc Cracken.

[@tenorschofield]

ingrid englitsch Bravissima!!!;molta gente non capice bene il vero canto delle tenori dell'passato.Un vero piacere il leggere gli sue parole...Auguri!!!

[@ingridenglitsch3840]

Auguri anche a voi.

[@margcarter3758]

thrilling voice !

[@kiltlvr]

GermanOperaSinger, you are correct -- this performance is definitely more brilliant than the one you posted from the Met in '72. This is tight, well-paced, vibrant, and Pavarotti sounds in perfect voice. Again, thank you for posting.

[@richardcleveland8549]

Amazing! Simply (albeit complicatedly!) amazing! An amazing man! How fortunate we are that those gems of Bel Canto were pulled out of the archives, dusted off and put on stage . . . AND, that there were singers who were (and still are) up to the task!

[@bravaLiz]

@GermanOperaSinger J'adore et Merci Beaucoup for sharing this! "AH...mon ami." This way too great.

[@ingridenglitsch3840]

Der war ein Weltwunder. Besser gehts nicht. Echt nicht!!!

[@dee1153]

WOW!!! I love you Pav!

[@learntocrochet1]

Opening at the Met in 72, the conductor raced the tempo which made this already difficult piece near impossible. Paravotti pulled it off, but I prefer this version.

[@philiphirtes6784]

Love Music Same conductor

[@learntocrochet1]

@@philiphirtes6784 Thanks for that info. Just goes to show, conductors can change their approach, be in a different mood, set the pace for the new production...etc.

[@dirtbag719]

Jesus......this is even better than the Met 1972 Fille. He sounded unbelievable here. The voice was so fresh, unrestricted, trumpet-like. Not fair to dump on Domingo, though. He had roles no one in his generation could touch him in. Otello, Hoffmann, Don Carlo. But the young Lucianissimo was almost a freak of nature. RIP, Maestro.

[@arisargiris]

Thats the way!!!!!!!!! Technick perfection!!!!!!! THE Tonio!!!! Thank you Big P for giving all of us sooo many beautiful things to remember!!!! If there is at least half a person that thinks that this is throaty then what should i say? That Earth is not round anymore???

[@sellaholding9205]

April 2016..... OH BRAVO MAESTRO!!!

[@yeah0304]

Bravo

[@bogdansecula1337]

High fidelity ... R.I.P. MAESTROOO :, (

[@richardcleveland8549]

By sheer dumb luck a couple of years ago, I stumbled across a recording of a Met auditions finalists. One young man - from a cold start, no less! - sang "Ah mes amis!" perfectly nailing every one of those high Cs! Perhaps you can imagine the reaction of the audience!!

[@bravaLiz]

Vielen Dank!

[@jos53cor]

Great!

[@Joshuaklotzbach]

Bravo maestro

[@martyrrt]

This was his aria !

[@leoperarm]

The best Tonio EVER!!!

[@ezioserale1607]

stupendo luciano indimenticabile voce, dono del cielo a pochi concesso, sono commosso, grazie!

[@janetkenny1974]

I wish to clarify my earlier comment. When I said "I was there" I really was. I attended a performance of that production in Covent Garden. Electric!

[@robertmarcou9289]

Luciano Pavarotti 9 Do s incomparable peu si sont essayés surtout le contre UT poussé plus longtemps que tout autres Ténors, une tessiture dans l'aigu admirable inégalée nous avons perdus un très grand Ténor salut l'artiste magistral Adios Maestro vailla con dios

[@jesusrobertoguerrag.4811]

Estimado amigo jorge, ¿sabes por que en el año 62 le apodaron a Pavarotti el Rey del DO de pecho,? fue por esta pieza la cual fue unica e irrepetible en el Coven Garden. Alfredo fue muy bueno sobre todo cuando canto a sus 92 años Turandot, reo que jamas se volvera a repetir esa interpretacion, pero me quedo con Luciano, Placido y Mario Lanza...

[@DanielHernandez1891]

+Jesús Roberto Guerra G. Cuando dices "Alfredo fue muy bueno sobre todo cuando canto a sus 92 años Turandot", y tras leer el post de Jorge, que menciona que sigue prefiriendo a Alfredo Kraus... ¿No te referirás al mismo Alfredo, no? No por nada, sino porque creía que Kraus falleció a los 72 años...

[@iTube22100]

Finalmente ho sentito un Pavarotti in voce, nel 1972 non è già più così

[@mariodacco2185]

iTube22100 questo non era il suo repertorio per questo motivo lo ha cantato per poco tempo e ha seguito la sua naturale vocalità, ascolta molte incisioni degli anni 80....... ti ricrederai...... alcuni concerti live impressionano.....

[@xXFedericoChannel]

secondo me invece era proprio questo il suo repertorio e secondo me la figlia del reggimento la poteva cantare fino al 79 80 quando poteva ancora dare tantissimo parlo almeno per il registro acuto non so perchè abbia smesso di cantare nel 72 73 e poi nel 95 dove a cantato benissimo tutta l'opera steccando i do

[@h.h.stroosma1582]

Not only high C but also high E, in this peace.

[@nickbaritone]

Pav had such awesome cut in his voice.

[@user-xz9zq3qy7y]

This is what proves him the king of high C's. Other tenors go "Pur a- aaaaaaaa and Je sa aaaaa" and Pavarotti goes "Poura ma- naaaaaaaa and Je sa Flaaaaame"

[@samkibler5326]

Yes, I love how he sings the whole "Pour mon ame" with such a smooth and connected legato. He seems like he never needs to breathe, and it sounds so much better than the somewhat disconnected way Kraus, Florez, and pretty much everyone else sings it.

[@dollartwenty]

He always credited Joan Sutherland with giving him such great breath control. In rehearsal he would put his hands around her waist to see how she breathed supporting the voice.

[@MLeuba]

Kraus, Florez and pretty much everyone else sing what Donizetti wrote :)

[@JohnDavidDunlap]

@@MLeuba Donizetti would have changed his score if he heard Pavarotti sing it. :)

[@G.Andrea_Piras]

Il "legato" è perfetto, l'onda sonora del suo canto è continua e luminosa, il respiro perfetto, e tutto parte dalla testa.

[@rafaelangon3709]

En México repitió la hazaña de estos agudos,Javier Camarena,un tenor muy Joven de Xalapa Veracruz y en Peru fue Juan Diego Flores.

[@marycavender7136]

For the thumbs down all I can say is where is your culture? It must be seriously lacking!This is superb!,,🇩🇪🎼🎶🎵🎭🤗🌹❤️👍❗

[@tjAvatarici]

This is why the word "maestro" was created.

[@mrs.schmenkman]

Dang I wish the audio was cleaned up on this. I could just eat him up !! It's so hard to get an audio that fully picks up the beauty of a operatic style singer, especially Pavarotti. There have been a few that I've found but I'm still looking! Remigio Perrera has a quality like Pavrotti, but only a handful of times has the audio actually caught the true quality of his. Voice

[@bellini7verdi]

LA SOLIDEZ DE PAVAROTTI Y SU INCISIVA VOZ MASCULINA Y POTENTE EST APOR ENCIMA DE TODO......TIENE UNA BELLEZA UNICA....Y UNA TESITURA INCOMPARABLE......QUE ABARCA VARIOS TONOS......

[@kunfusinger]

Ese do con esa obscuridad, suena realmente BRUTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!, un legitimo C de pecho obscuro y hermoso algo que no se escuchaba desde el Gran Caruso!!!

[@francescoorlandi4212]

Ecco un Pavarotti il vero e isuperabile

[@OperaMyWorld]

Could you please upload the whole perfomance??I Have the 1966 Covent Garden,Met 1972 & 1973 perfomances and are Great!!!Also I have the Atlanta 1972 Met on Tour perfomance which is also amazing!!But this perfomance is GREAT!!

[@chriswalters-mundrick1500]

OperaMyWorld 77

[@chriswalters-mundrick1500]

Perfection he gives me goose bumps when he sings those high notes.my mother sang opera a mezzo soprano who also gives goosebumps she passed on last aug. And i just know she ix singing ave maria with luciano pavarotti he was her favorite tenor. She use to sing arias from carmen and la traviata two of my favorites. I will miis pavarotti and my mother rest their souls.

[@pavarotti744]

every other Tenor that attempted this role should burn their recordings after listening to this recording which is beyond brilliant.

[@Mooorhe]

What also strikes me about this recording apart from the in-comparable singing is the pictures. Both Joan and Pavarotti look absolutely gorgeous. Pavarotti was stunningly handsome before he became even larger and abused his body. La Stupenda, she was stunning. They both look the part and fit beautifully together and their voices fit even better together, the world was blessed with those voices. Wonderful.

[@sospello]

Thanks for this new posting. We need to remind ourselves of the extraordinary qualities he had in the 1960's-70's.

[@reanatabenincasa310]

Luciano , eri il piu grande, mi manca la tua voce dal vivo, e mi manchi tu come amico. Renata

[@roderickfemm8799]

There is no doubt in my mind that Pavarotti excelled at this kind of Bel Canto, which I think was only helped by the crystal clarity of his tone. But it is sad that he is known so much for this sort of thing, because he could sing sweetly, softly, tenderly and warmly when that was appropriate. Domingo's voice was always warmer, but he didn't deal quite so cleanly with the top notes.

[@BassoNero]

Luciano was really unique singing this role, because it wasn`t his province. For other tenors like Kraus, Florez, Kunde, Blake the high c is a note that for other tenors is an "a" or a "b-flat". And Luciano was not typical high tenor, but he had enough courage to sing this role.

[@MusicalTenor23]

Yeah! this is the sound of what I have in my CD's of Pavarotti. Thanks Ted!

[@Footlancer]

Pavarotti's vibrato was noticeably quicker in the early part of his career. Also, conductors often did this song quite a bit faster than on recordings when playing live. Much easier to stay fresh for the tenor playing Tonio. This is very near prefect, Germanoperasinger.

[@anibaldk]

My God, is THAT how it's supposed to sound? My neighbours must love me...

[@GermanOperaSinger]

Probably is...I have relative pitch so I try to tune it as close I as can't tell a difference.

[@joecace799]

This aria should only be sung by Pavarotti. Nothing else can or ever will compare.

[@Mooorhe]

Personally, i'm interested in the maltese tenor Joseph Calleja. The Questa o Quella of his on KZbin is simply sensational. A real tenor with great technique, i've a ticket to see him sing Rigoletto at the Opera house in Hamburg this September, can't wait.

[@purplescapular4935]

The best of the best. Only Pavarotti. That may be the only reason some don't like him.

[@ursuladietze2094]

Young Florez was good in this, produced beautiful high notes... but in comparison to t h i s performance you cannot help but noticing that he lacked one thing: VOLUME!!!!!

[@valasina2015]

Would like to hear more insightful comments on Florez. Seems people either like him or don't.

[@numetutelare]

Una meraviglia, uno squillo argenteo ed una estensione in tono spettacolare... per intenderci non strillava, saliva agli acuti e non li sparava ....conosceva la tecnica del falsettone mentre oggi al massimo arrivano al falsetto....