Within two days, the world has lost 2 very important artists. The first and more well known is that of Luciano Pavarotti. Leading the way in a renewed interest in opera, he is "the" tenor we all know and love.
My thanks to Teodo for the video links.
Luciano Pavarotti at the 2006 Winter Olympics
The Three Tenors
La Donna e'Mobile
A little known story about Master Pavarotti. I had a math professor whose son was auditioning for Pavarotti. And in a case of jitters forgot the words to the song he was singing. So, as a well known trick for singers, he started singing "I don't know the words, I don't know the words, I don't know the words." In Italian. After he was finished, the master turned to him and said, "Ah, M___, M___. You did very well, but you should really take the time to learn the words."
The other loss is not as well known. Madeleine L'Engle passed away. She was the author of A Wrinkle in Time as well as other books. Her story is here. Her way of thinking and her logic was so extraordinary. I really recommend the entire Time Quartet if you haven't already read it.
I know that loss is a natural part of life, and that no matter how hard we look for it, that immortality and the fountain of youth will never be found. But I can't help crying a little at the loss that our world has encountered because of their passing. It seems the world is just a little bit darker now.
And yet with that darkness comes hope. Who will step into their shoes? Who will the next "great" opera singer be? Who will be the next "great" writer? Will they arrive in this generation, or the next? I am waiting hopefully to see. Until then,
Hugs,
Melinda
