Opera Chic will follow has followed via satellite feed Pavarotti's funeral beamed live from Modena's Duomo on Italian TV.
The stream has been saved by RAI here (thanks to reader Jerry)
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Internet feed streaming live, courtesy of RaiUno here
Corriere della Sera streamed SKY TV's signal here
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More than 100,000 people have paid their respects to Pavarotti during the 48 hours he lied in state in the Duomo. Two JumboTrons are broadcasting the live feed from the Duomo in Modena's two largest squares, to try and accomodate the tens of thousands of well-wishers who couldn't enter the Duomo.
The Italian Foreign Ministry let it be known that books of condolences for il Maestro are available to well-wishers around the world at Italian embassies and
consulates.
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Italy's Air Force precision flying team flew over the cathedral at the end of the service, releasing red, white and green smoke in the colors of the Italian flag in the honor of the great Italian, Luciano Pavarotti.
The broadcast has just begun, it's 850 AM in New York, 250 PM in Italy.
The funeral will begin at 9AM New York time, 3PM in Italy.
La signora Kabaivanska will shortly begin singing the Ave Maria from Verdi's Otello.
Mirella Freni, who knew Pavarotti since they were small children, had been asked to sing but she declined, "the emotions are too overwhelming". Freni, truly annihilated by sorrow, has been barely capable of giving, heartbreakingly, a couple brief quotes in a whisper to Italian TV before the ceremony. She has been wise to immediately decline yesterday the honor of singing for her Luciano, because she clearly would not have been able to choke back her tears.
Kabaivanska, completely white-haired, in a black dress with grey inserts, opens the ceremony with Verdi.
A lesson of class, and control, from 72-year-old Kaibavanska, who managed to finish her aria holding the tears at bay. It's beside the point, obviously, today, but the beauty of her voice is still so present. She gave us such a gift.
Corale Rossini di Modena sang beautifully the "Graduale" from Cherubini's 1816 Requiem in C Minor.
A message from the Pope is read in Church, honoring "the great artist" who "honored the divine gift of music". Modena Bishop Benito Cocchi is officiating.
Italian PM Romano Prodi, ex UN Sec.Gen Kofi Annan, US Ambassador to Italy Ronald Spogli are among those present.
I Corinthians is being read: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gang or a clanging cymbal".
In the Church, we recongize plenty of personalities from the pop music, from Bono in a black suit to Italian stars Jovanotti and Zucchero. Classical music personalities we have recognized: Franco Zeffirelli in his trademark white scarf. Former Met GM Joe Volpe 's presence has been announced, too. Carla Fracci is there, all in white. Scala GM Stéphane Lissner is there, too.
Flutist Andrea Griminelli is playing the "Danza degli spiriti beati" from Orfeo e Euridice by Christoph Willibald Gluck.
A perfectly shaven, tie-less Andrea Bocelli in black suit and open necked grey shirt sings Ave Verum Corpus; Stefano Colò organist. Bocelli, whatever one can say about him -- not today anyway -- has stepped up to the plate and sung, correctly if uninspiringly; OC thinks he has honored Pavarotti's memory. Certainly more than the scores of singers who tonight don't have an engagement anywhere and still didn't go to the funeral. Where were they, really. What could be more important than showing their respect for the greatest singer? We know Juan Diego has an engagement in a few hours in London: and it's a cruel line of work, you don't cancel an engagement to go to a funeral, sadly. But what about the others? Are they all singing tonight? We doubt that. Riccardo Muti, a private man, has visited Pavarotti's wake on Friday evening, and bid farewell to his friend in private, away from the cameras. Other colleagues should have followed his example.
Pavarotti's first wife, la signora Adua, is seated several seats away from Pavarotti's second wife, Nicoletta.
Oh dear: a recording of Pavarotti and his dad rings in Church now, Panis Angelicus.
Hearing that unique, unmistakable voice, that wondrous sound, while the TV carries the image of Pavarotti's maple wood coffin.
In a spontaneous breach of etiquette, a standing ovation, and long applause echoes through the Duomo. It just never ends.
A brief, quite eloquent -- for his standards -- speech by the Italian PM: "Sometimes we don't need words because sorrow speaks for us; and everything todays demonstrates how deeply Pavarotti became part of our lives".
It's over now -- Luciano Pavarotti will shortly be buried, in the Montale Rangone cemetery next to his beloved parents and his only son, Riccardo, Alice's twin, stillborn in 2003.
La signora Freni's parting words: "We talked many times, in the last months, about what we had accomplished. I kept telling him that he would always be remembered, for all he has done. And then hopefully other singers will come, and will keep opera alive".
