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Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti wears a
Peking Opera headdress presented to him after a news conference in
Beijing yesterday. Pavarotti will hold a concert tomorrow in Beijing
as part of his round-the-world farewell tour concerts that will end
with his retirement. |
The 70-year-old tenor Lusiano Pavarotti told
reporters in Beijing Thursday that he would show his talent as "King of
Hi-C" at the farewell concert
in Beijing Capital Gymnasium on Dec. 10.
The concert in Beijing, following the one in Shanghai, will complete
his Worldwide Farewell Celebration Tour in China.
Some 20 years ago, Pavarotti paid his first visit to China and offered
Chinese audience with Bohemian for the first time.
Changes in China over the past years are incredible, said Pavarotti,
but he received the same warm welcome by the Chinese audience this time in
Shanghai.
In 2001, Pavarotti joined hands with other two top tenors Placido
Domingo and Jose Carreras to stage a performance in the Forbidden City to
support Beijing's bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games.
The maestro decided to make his farewell tour performance at the
beginning of this year. At each station of his tour, Pavarotti will
perform 34 repertoire marking
the peak of his 44-year singing career. He was very careful in picking up
songs in his farewell tour.
With his habit of doing charity, Pavarotti will auction a car presented
to him by DF-NISSAN company to build a primary school for Chinese children
in poor families.
Born in an ordinary family in 1935, Pavarotti showed his gift ever
since he was a child. In 1955, he went to receive professional training on
vocality, and scored his first
prize in 1961. In 1972, he was entitled "King of Hi-C" for his marvelous
talent in singing with high tone.
According to the organizers of the Beijing performance, 80 percent of
the tickets have been sold. Ticket sale of the concert is expected to hit
the record of a single performance at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium.
(Xinhua) |