IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 708 

Honoring the life and accomplishments of Luciano Pavarotti and recognizing 

the significant and positive impact of his astounding musical talent, 

his achievement in raising the profile of opera with audiences around 

the world, and his commitment to charitable causes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 2, 2007 

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California (for herself, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DICKS, 

Mr. SERRANO, Mr. RENZI, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. JONES of 

Ohio, Mr. MURTHA, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. 

KUCINICH, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. LANTOS, 

Mr. HONDA, and Mr. HINOJOSA) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life and accomplishments of Luciano Pavarotti 

and recognizing the significant and positive impact of 

his astounding musical talent, his achievement in raising 

the profile of opera with audiences around the world, 

and his commitment to charitable causes. 

Whereas Luciano Pavarotti was born on October 12, 1935, 

in the outskirts of Modena, Italy; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti first began singing in a church choir 

at the age of 9; 


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Whereas Mr. Pavarotti was trained as a teacher and taught 

second grade in Italy before deciding to pursue his music 

full time; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti began serious voice training at the 

age of 19 under Arrigo Pola, a respected teacher and 

professional tenor in Modena, Italy; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti made his operatic debut on April 29, 

1961, as Rodolfo in La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, at 

the opera house in Reggio Emilia; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti made his American debut with the 

Greater Miami Opera in February of 1965 as a last 

minute replacement in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti’s February 17, 1972, performance in 

Donizetti’s La Fille du Re ́giment at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, included nine high C’s during the signature aria and helped him break through to American audiences; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti made frequent television performances 

which attracted some of the largest audiences ever recorded for televised opera events; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti, with Placido Domingo and Jose 

Carreras, made their debut as ‘‘The Three Tenors’’ in 

Rome during the 1990 World Cup; 

Whereas ‘‘The Three Tenors’’ recording from their debut 

concert became the biggest selling classical record of all 

time; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti earned five Grammy awards and a 

Grammy Legend Award; 


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Whereas on December 12, 1998, Mr. Pavarotti became the 

first and, so far, only opera singer to perform on ‘‘Saturday Night Live’’; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti organized and hosted annual 

‘‘Pavarotti and Friends’’ charity concerts in his home 

town of Modena in Italy, to raise money for worthy 

United Nations’ causes; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti sang at numerous benefit concerts to 

help victims of natural and manmade tragedies; 

Whereas in 1998 Mr. Pavarotti was named the United Nations Messenger of Peace; 

Whereas in 2001 Mr. Pavarotti received the Nansen Medal 

from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees 

for his efforts raising money on behalf of refugees worldwide; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti received the Kennedy Center Honors 

in 2001; 

Whereas on February 10, 2006, Mr. Pavarotti sang ‘‘Nessun 

Dorma’’ as the final act of the 2006 Winter Olympics 

Opening Ceremony in Turin, Italy; 

Whereas Mr. Pavarotti’s immense talent, and passion for his 

art encouraged people around the world to embrace 

opera; and 

Whereas Luciano Pavarotti died on September 6, 2007 in a 

hospital in Modena, Italy: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 the life and accomplishments of Luciano Pavarotti and 

3 recognizes the significant and positive impact of his as4 tounding musical talent, his achievement in raising the 


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•HRES 708 IH 

1 profile of opera with audiences around the world, and his 

2 commitment to charitable causes. 

Æ 


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