Opera Chic

Modena Honors Pavarotti on the 6th Anniversary of his Death

Modena will hold a free event in its Piazza Grande on September 6 to commemorate its hometown hero, Luciano Pavarotti, on the 6th annivesary of his death. Called "Vincero", it's hosted by Italian actor Michele Placido who will perform a work comprised of anecdotes curated by Bolognese writer, Grazie Versani.

Also on an anecdote kick is Big Luciano colleague, Katia Ricciarelli, who rolls out a variety extravaganza called 'Altro di Mi' on August 6 based on her 2008 autobiography. She'll be speaking about her career and relationships between opera-lite arias and showtunes such as 'Memory' and 'La Vie en rose'.

Tip a 33.8 Ounce (of S.Pellegrino) to Pavarotti's Legacy

Pavarotti's the latest Italian icon to be immortalized by S.Pellegrino in its Live in Italy campaign, so like 2Pac poured a 40 oz. to his dead homies, OC tips the 33.8 oz. special edition bottle of S.Pellegrino to Big Pav's memory.

To further celebrate Pavarotti as a hero of Italian culture and style, the Italian beverage empire backs a Verona-based exhibition, Amo Pavarotti, featuring the tenor's personal effects that runs through September. The bottle's only available in restaurants, worldwide -- and at OC's dinner parties, among good friends, between rounds of crudité and bagna càuda.

Mantovani Claims to be Cured of Multiple Sclerosis & Celebrates with a Film

Nicoletta Mantovani's spreading the gospel of Italian vascular surgeon Paolo Zamboni -- she says that he's cured her of Multiple Sclerosis. Six months ago, the Italian doctor performed his controversial surgery on Pavarotti's widow who now claims that she's symptom-free of the degenerative disease. Zamboni hypothesizes that MS is caused by "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI)" which prevents proper blood drainage from the head due to blocked veins.

The news comes on the eve of Mantovani's debut as a film producer. Her movie, "E la chiamano estate" is about "the abnormalities and the perversions of many couples" which launches in Italy on November 22.

Luciano's Friends

A month ago we wrote about the upcoming, star-studded crossover concert to memorialize the fifth anniversary of Luciano Pavarotti's death on September 6. VanityFair.It, which will stream the event live on its website, has 30-odd vintage photos of Big Pav onstage and with glitterati such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Bono, Aretha Franklin, The Spice Girls, etc.

Luciano's Friends for the Fifth Anniversary

To bear witness to the fifth anniversary of Pavarotti's death on September 6, the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation organized a crossover concert in Modena, the singer's hometown.

Guests include young opera singers studying in Modena and some of Pavarotti's colleagues such as Montserrat Caballé, Andrea Bocelli and Ennio Morricone.

Tickets are free, available (at a maximum of two) at the Teatro Comunale's box office from 10am - 7pm. There are also some tickets available by written request, go here for more details.

Pavarotti For Nutella

 

Longer version embedded here.

The song -- "Buongiorno a te" -- is track 14 on Disc 2 of Lucianone's Best.

"There Is Only Joy": Rupert Christiansen on Pavarotti

If you're a Pavarotti fan and you're in the UK, the new Daily Telegraph promotion seems pretty cool -- it's always a good day to listen to Pavarotti.

And, we also get a nice Rupert Christiansen riff on Big Luciano: 

His art doesn’t belong exclusively to the operatic cognoscenti: like his great predecessors Caruso, Gigli, Lanza and Björling, he had what used to be called “the common touch” – a simple generosity and open charm that appealed to anyone with music in their heart.

Let’s not be sentimental about this. Pavarotti didn’t have all the gifts. Nobody could pretend he was a great actor, nor was he the most subtle of interpreters. He lacked Domingo’s incredible versatility and intelligence. I would even say that for sheer beauty of sound, his voice doesn’t match either that of the young Giuseppe di Stefano or the young José Carreras.

But Pavarotti was a natural, with a genius for the music of his native Italy. To the elegant bel canto of Bellini and Donizetti, the high romantic operas of Verdi, the lush melancholy melodies of Puccini or the insouciance of Neapolitan song, he brought a voice of perfect focus and clarion purity, crisply and effortlessly articulated. There’s no effort in his singing at its best; there is only joy, and a sense of it being the easiest thing in the world (which it certainly isn’t).

 

Nicoletta Mantovani & the New Dude

Thank you Italian gossip magazine, "Chi", for all the deliciousness you have bestowed on us. This week's edition reports not only on Eleonora Abbagnato's perfect azz, but on the developing ~love affair~ between Pavarotti's widow of almost three years, Nicoletta Mantovani, and Bologna man, Filippo Vernassa.

One month ago the new(ish) couple went out of their way to state they were not hanging out. One month later, they just don't give a fuq. Forty-year-old NIcoletta was papped in a lip-lock with 36-year-old Vernassa (a "direttore organizzativo" at a Bologna-based theater) in the tranquil waters of seaside resort, Marina di Massa. Mantovani and Vernassa played with Mantovani/Pavarotti's daughter, Alice, and later took her to Aladin, the musical.

Hmmmm. 1990s' silver cross on a leather cord? Faded bicep tattoo? Grown man wearing Abercrombie? Love is blind or at least near-sighted and kind of forgetful. 

Those old enough to remember (sorry, OC isn't part of that club) can time-travel back to February 1996 to the epic kiss between Mantovani and Pavarotti in the Barbados, caught by paps. Luciano was 60-years-old at the time. Nicoletta Mantovani was 26-years-old and Luciano's secretary. The pictures sparked a scandal as Big Pav was still married to his first wife, Adua Veroni (although he was allegedly in the process of separating).

 

Many more scans are waiting under the cut...including a grown man in an Abercrombie tshirt.

Nicoletta Mantovani and her ~Companion~ do not Take Vacation Together

 

A few weeks ago in the Italian press, weekly gossip magazine Chi reported that Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of Luciano Pavarotti for almost three years, was in a new relationship with Filippo Vernassa. Five years Mantovani's junior, Vernassa is the "direttore organizzativo" at Bologna-based Teatro Europa Auditorium, the same city where Mantovani lives and currently serves the local government offices as Councilor of Culture.

Mantovani and Vernassa were seen frequently walking hand-in-hand through the streets of Bologna with daughter Alice, the new couple (seen above) also making an appearance together at a benefit dinner for Mantovani's MS campaigns.

Vernassa's PR is keeping quiet on the manner while Mantovani has said that the two are just friends.

Now Chi publishes some photos of vacationing Nicoletta Mantovani, relaxing in the sun with 7-year-old daughter Alice in Forte dei Marmi, where Mantovani makes it clear that she's vacationing with Alice and her 69-year-old dad, Gianni -- Vernassa wasn't invited.

 

Click the link below for some Mantovani bikini pix!

Nicoletta Mantovani Tried to Make Contact With Pavarotti's Ghost (And Also Plans a Museum)

 

Nicoletta Mantovani talked about her late husband, Luciano Pavarotti, to "Io Donna" (Corriere della Sera's ~lady~ magazine) in an article from last month, leaving us with some really interesting quotes.

In the article, "Cerco Luciano Anche Con I Medium" (I Look for Luciano also with a Medium) (a condensed teaser is online here), Mantovani reveals a few things:

Read what she had to say after the jump!

Nicoletta Mantovani's Winter Look

 

Last we checked-in with la bionda (in August 2009), she was sporting a brilliantly platinum blond bob. La Nicoletta has ditched the bleach and adapted a new look.

Click the link to see her new 'do!

Nicoletta Mantovani On Pavarotti's Relationship With His Father (And On Pavarotti's Professional Choices)

Corbis photo agency asked Nicoletta Mantovani to discuss Luciano Pavarotti's family pictures.

Pavarotti nel cuore

This Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of Luciano Pavarotti's death, and in remembrance, Modena is preparing for a weekend of tributes. The culmination will be a free, outdoor concert at 9:15pm in Piazza Grande, the same piazza where mourners paid their respects to The Notorious P.A.V. two years prior. Titled “Pavarotti nel cuore”, the concert will contain works by Donizetti, Giordano, Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavallo, and Saint-Saens. The soloists were all former students of Pavarotti (or Raina Kabaivanska) and winners of the Modena-based Pavarotti International Voice Competitions.

Kings of Music Collide: Pavarotti & MJ's First Meeting

For Vanity Fair Italia's Michael Jackson remembrance issue, Nicoletta Mantovani shared an anecdote about the first time that she & Pavarotti met the pop star, and knowing only of him from the gossip she had read in the newspapers...his mysophobia, his quirkiness, and his face masks.

Before the meeting, she warned her husband that his warm, intimate handshakes and slap-happy hugs would probably not be appreciated by Jackson (or his bodyguards), and to behave himself accordingly. However:

"Michael opened the door in a white t-shirt and jeans, all alone, and immediately ran up to greet Luciano. He sat on the couch right between us and started to speak with the enthusiasm of a little boy. After a few minutes, Luciano looked at me from under his glasses, and in dialect, said [in effect]: "What a load of crap you told me!"

Smooooth criminal! We're fond of the 2007 photo from the L'Uomo Vogue archives by Bruce Weber (Roberto Bolle's BFF) which accompanied the quote.

La Mantovani on La7

Nicoletta Mantovani cleaned up nice for an appearance last night on Italy's La7, where she spoke about her life after the death of late husband, Luciano Pavarotti.


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Surprise Surprise! Nicoletta Mantovani Does Chi Magazine

Nicoletta Mantovani is tite as hale with Italian kittyb0x liner magazine, Chi, and sold another story to them. This time, it's on her recent desert extravaganza...the Pavarotti concert in Petra, Jordan. She just talked about how Luciano wanted a big party, and how gorgeous it all was...nothing new to report. Cover and scans below.

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Click on the link below for a close-up of Nicoletta and Alice, and four more big scans...

Party in the Desert: Homage to Pavarotti in Petra (Now with Screenshots)

Here are screenshots from the October 12, 2008 "Omaggio a Pavarotti" in Petra, Jordan to commemorate the first year of Pavarotti's death. The memorial concert and benefit was organized by Princess Haya of Jordan & Nicoletta Mantovani, and included performers from "Pavarotti & Friends": Andrea Bocelli, Lorenzo "Jovanotti" Cherubini, Laura Pausini, Sting, and Zucchero. Other performers included: Angela Gheorghiu, Andrea Griminelli, Cynthia Lawrence, Sherrill Milnes, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Aleem Quandour.

Gruppo Mediaset transmitted the concert via Retequattro on October 22, 2008, and O.C. took some nice pictures to share with her readers. Enjoy!

• Song 1: Zucchero went first with "Miserere". He tried to do this sort of virtual duet with Pavarotti, so they showed footage of an old duet between him and Pavarotti on the jumbo-screen. Picture below.

Click the link below for a song-by-song recap, and to see like a million pictures of Laura Pausini, Andrea Griminelli, Bono, Andrea Bocelli, Angela Gheorghiu, Aleem Quandour, Cynthia Lawrence, Sherril Milnes, José Carreras, and Plácido Domingo

Sneak Peek of Awesomeness!: Angela Gheorghiu & Sting Do Mozart

Here's a little teaser clip of Our Lady of Holy Cancellations, Angela Gheorghiu, and her Don Giovanni "Là ci darem la mano" duet with Sting during the Petra Pavarotti memorial concert from October 12, 2008 in Jordan. Sting's pronunciation was almost on par with Paris Hilton's shill for H3G with Claudio Amendola...and Angela was really, ummm, ^into it^. Previous coverage of the event can be found here & here & here, and O.C. is right now preparing screenshots from the historic event. Keep F5-ing, my operafiends!

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[vvvv  Update  vvvv] Here are screenshots from the same duet:

Remembrance of Pavarotti's Forty Years: L’uomo che emozionò il mondo

An exhibition curated by Nicoletta Mantovani (but organized by a Rome-based exhibition agency) opened yesterday, Thursday, October 16th, in one of the exhibition spaces of Rome's Complesso del Vitoriano. Called "Luciano Pavarotti: The Man who Moved the World" (L’uomo che emozionò il mondo), it celebrates a 40-year span during the glorious career of the grande tenore. Costumes, libretti, films, paintings, and other memorabilia all pertaining to Big Luciano can be viewed free-of-charge until Tuesday, December 10, 2008. The exhibit also features a few paintings executed by Pav himself.

 

Clickety click on the link below to see a few more pictures from the exhibition...

Angela Shines Again: Pavarotti's Tribute with More VIPs Than You Can Shake a Stick At

 

In an article on the Petra Pavarotti event in Corriere, we get a glimpse of Angela Gheorghiu and Sting in their "La ci darem la mano" duet during the Sunday, October 12 concert in memory of Luciano Pavarotti. But such a grainy, small dpi won't be necessary, as OC has dug up for her lovely readers a steaming buffet of technicolor jpegs. The article summarized the concert events, which OC already relayed (see posts below) -- but we're eager to report that the concert will be played on Italian television on Rete 4 on October 22, 2008 (for those of us unlucky 500 attendees who couldn't shell-out a minimum of $2,000 USD up to $9,500 USD for a single ticket). 

If you thought yesterday's batch of VIPs from the Petra Pavarotti tribute were impressive, wait until you see this installment! Angela Gheorghiu flaunts a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk full of sparkling costumes, and despite the desert sand, Domingo & Carreras look impeccable in black.

(Above: Angela Gheorghiu and José Carreras)

(Above: Angela Gheorghiu and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan)

(Above: Angela Gheorghiu)
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**Click on the link below for MOAR ANGELA (in Chanel wraparounds), Andrea Bocelli (with girlfriend Veronica Bertoli), American baritone Sherrill Milnes, Cynthia Lawrence, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Sting, and more Nicoletta (sans cigarettes)!!

Angela's Night: Tribute to Pavarotti @ Petra

Here is Angela Gheorghiu in duet with Andrea Bocelli at the Petra Pavarotti memorial concert from October 12, 2008.

Petra Pavarotti Tribute: Stars Find Their Way to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon

Ok, fine, not really. No Nazis, no Dr. Jones, no Holy Grail, & no Knights of the First Crusade -- this time we have to settle for José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Jovanotti, the Alagnas, and Sting at Al Khazneh in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan for a memorial concert & gala in commemoration of Big Luciano.

The concert was under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint al Hussein of Jordan, and funds will go towards various UN projects in Afghanistan. Nicoletta Mantovani and daughter Alice were on hand to memorialize Pavarotti's gigantic footprint by chillaxing with the VIPs.

Kicking off the photos is Nicoletta & Alice & orsetto:

 

If Pavarotti were still alive, it would have been a birthday celebration for his 73rd...instead, a bittersweet program included: Placido Domingo and José Carreras sang together, "Non ti scordar di me"; Laura Pausini and Jovanotti interpreted "Caruso" in duet, while Pausini went on to duet "Vivere" with Andrea Bocelli; Sting and Angela Gheorghiu sang together "La ci darem la mano", and treated the audience of 500 VIPs to a bis (who had paid up to $9,500.00 USD per ticket); Zucchero sang "Miserere", while Pavarotti was projected on a gigantic screen in a virtual duet; and Roberto Alagna showed up alongside Andrea Griminelli and Cynthia Lawrence. The concert ended with a projection of Big Luciano singing "Nessun dorma".

Make sure you click on the link directly below for many, many, many more photos from the weekend of festivities...

Gheorghiu Tribute In Petra, Jordan: Luciano Who?

One week from now the Pavarotti Tribute extravaganza with Andrea Bocelli, Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Sting, Cynthia Lawrence, José Carreras, and Italian pop artists Jovanotti, Zucchero and Laura Pausini will take place in Petra, Jordan (at least the venue's really , really, really cool).

Opera Chic's love for the memory of the great man forbids her to elaborate much further.

Moving the Meat With Callas & Pavarotti

We all need our gimmicks, but we were surprised to find two of opera's greatest legacies chillaxing in the window of a local macellaio. We all know that Pavarotti was quite the aficionado of all things edible & drinkable, and Callas a foodie as well, but the correlation is a bit tenuous. Regardless, we're casting 500 stylepoints @ Sam the Butcher for his operacentric campaign. Ridi, Pagliaccio, e compra la carne!

Nicoletta Mantovani's Beach Bod Wishes You a Happy Labor Day!

Because nothing really makes us long more for Autumnal fresh breezes than Nicoletta Mantovani in a synthetic one-piece.

Here she was lounging on the Capri beaches this past July with five-year-old love child, Alice, while Pav gives his afterworldly seal of approval.

Happy Labor Day, y'all!

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