The death of Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who had given Chinese impressive performances for 3 times, aroused great sadness in his Chinese courterparts.
"People may not know opera well but they know who is Pavarotti. He is a super star and flagship of Italian opera on the world stage. His death is a great loss," Yao Hong, one of China's best sopranos, told Xinhua here Thursday.
She had been on the same stage with Pavarotti at the concert held at the Forbidden City of Beijing in 2001 for China's campaign to host the 2008 Olympics.
"I will never forget the moment when I held his hand and sang together at the concert as he has been the master I revere most," Yao said.
Pavarotti had been to China for three times, in 1986, 2001 and 2005. On Dec. 8, 2005, he gave a farewell concert in Beijing.
"We had the luck to work with this master of opera for several times. He had given Chinese people the chances to enjoy the most wonderful voice in the world. We appreciate him forever," said Liu Xijin, dean of China National Opera House.
Pavarotti passed away in Modena of Italy early Thursday at the age of 71. He had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer last year and stayed out of the stage ever since.
"I had expected to sing with him in China again when Beijing hosts the Olympics in 2008. This dream will never realize," Yao the soprano said.
Source: Xinhua
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