Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti

4 Feb 2010 – Happy Bday Lawrence LAM

Have seen La Bohème in Dublin/Ireland, London/UK, Oslo/Norway and Sydney/Australia over the years but do not have much recollections of the casts. An entertaining evening last night at the Esplanade Theatre/SIN with Nancy Yuen, Kota Murakami and Simon Kyung Lee in this performance but was too tired to appreciate it fully.

The most memorable performance of La Bohème was at Sydney Opera House’s Gala Benefit Concert in 1983 with Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland. It was the opening of the Sydney Regent Hotel where I was staying and so was Pavarotti. Usually I do not keep programs but he autographed this one and it is very special and precious to me, as there is no other voice like Pavarotti’s when he was at his best, a voice which chills me to the bones! Thank you to brother Lawrence for including me in the opening of the Sydney Regent Hotel then, for the opera tickets and arranging for me to meet Pavarotti.