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Pavarotti Concert...cough, cough!!

The night of the 22nd October saw Kath and I attend a very special event, a "Pavarotti Concert" that was held at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

We booked our dinner at a nearby restaurant in Richmond (an inner suburb of Melbourne) and drove the car to the stadium in the hope to find a car park. Once we finished our lovely meal we fixed the bill and proceeded 2km down the road towards the carpark... Then to find a major traffic jam, it took 1/2 hour to move through all this, and as we got closer, all the friggin carparks were now full, I dropped Kath at the front of the stadium, and said to her to get the seats, and once I found a carpark, I would meet her there. By this time I had 10 minutes left before the curtain lifted.

I found a car park 2km from the venue and ran to the stadium, I tell you I am so unfit and was gasping for air as I got closer to the stadium, I wasn't the only one in this predicament, many others were scampering with high heels/suits/opera attire etc. All desperate to get in before the great man began.

Anyway, I made it, and signaled to Kath, if she by any chance, had any water on her, which she did have! Whew, sweat was pouring from me as Pavarotti began, I was gradually getting my breath back, which I did in the end.

The show started with him sitting down at the side of a piano with a black shirt, sleeves rolled up and a silly multicolured scarf (pictured above). The conductor was also the pianist, and the opening 7 songs were simply that, him and the pianist, he also had a wonderful soprano who sang with him too,.

The Soprano ended up singing around half the songs during the night, even though her voice was that of an angel, it wasn't her that we were paying top dollar to see, it was Pavarotti! By now, there was no sign that this great man was going to stand and belt it out.

Part One was now over, and curtains closed... a wait of 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes...grrr what's going on!! Eventually after 35 mins the curtains were drawn back for Part 2, this time we all expected him to be suited up and standing!... NO!! STILL SITTING!!!! GRRRR!!

He was still sitting down as though he was doing a 'Pope John-Paul II' thing dribbling... The orchestra did an instrumental piece and Pavarotti reclined back and took a nap. Then you were ready for something special! Well, we hoped....na, the Soprano again!! The audience was muttering "When are we seeing Pavarotti belt one out!". Eventually the limelight was on him again! I must admit he was hitting some amazing notes, especially for one sitting down... In amongst the camera catching him picking his nose.

The drama hit as he was singing his started to cough, he reached for water which he had on the side of the piano (mind you still sitting). He was in trouble so the Soprano had to take over, the lights went off him and you could see him drinking water in order to get the coughing under control, he did in the end, then came back with a few amazing notes, then closed with another cough!!

Worse now he was nearing the end and we were all waiting for 'Nesa Dorma' (his trademark song) and you'd think this was going to be his farewell song too, the audience was on the edge of their seats waiting! Next! All of a sudden with no fuss, he gets presented with flowers says thank you in a very weak voice, curtains close and stadium lights come on signaling the end. What!! What the F***! Then you hear a few boos coming from the audience! My initial reaction is we've been ripped off!
No Nesa Dorma!!! Ahhhhh!!! No audience participation and not once did he bother to stand up from his comfy chair!

I have to agree with a media columnist this morning he says : Quote Melbourne Age: "So, important things first: the voice, alas, has deteriorated. The first group of Italian songs, with piano (played by the night's conductor, Leone Magiera) were awkwardly sung, with Pavarotti's head buried in his music.

He was seated behind the piano, looking, on the video screens, like a newsreader on television. There was little engagement with the audience, apart from a sporadic "thank you" between numbers."

And this... "There was all too often the feeling of the grandeur that was Pavarotti, rather than the sad, static tableau of the artist that now remains. He remained trapped behind the piano like a guest at his own memorial service. We had only glimpses of that once incomparable voice.

Prices were high for the event (just the program cost $30) but the arena was full and the audience more than generous. I wish Luciano Pavarotti the best for the rest of his farewell tour, and maybe he will regain his voice for other, luckier places...

Oh well... that was my taste of Coughalotti...hmh hmm I mean Pavarotti.

Next time an ageing performer tours I may reconsider before I outlay money for tickets. Overall if it wasn't for the performance of Simona Todaro the Italian Soperano the show would have been bloody ordinary.

posted by grechy @ 5:23 pm