Lü Jia - “Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Luciano Pavarotti’s Birth | One Voice for Love, Eternal in Music”
“Vincerò! Vincerò!” — On the evening of October 12, when the footage of Luciano Pavarotti’s legendary 1990 Rome performance of Nessun dorma was projected in the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall, over a thousand spectators were immersed in the glorious voice of the 20th century’s great tenor. Waves of thunderous applause filled the hall, and even as people reluctantly left their seats, the melody of O Sole Mio lingered in the air.

The concert “One Voice for Love – A Concert in Memory of Luciano Pavarotti’s 90th Birthday”, jointly presented by the Shanghai Opera House and the Pavarotti Foundation, celebrated a man who devoted his life to opera, to music, and to his deep affection for China — in the very city he visited twice. Through his passionate recordings, Pavarotti met once again with his beloved Shanghai audience, leaving behind an evening of warmth and unforgettable beauty.

Under the baton of Maestro Lü Jia, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra — who has lived in Italy for decades — an extraordinary lineup of international artists gathered. The cast featured celebrated dramatic tenor Yusif Eyvazov, one of today’s most beloved sopranos Olga Peretyatko, and world-renowned tenor Gregory Kunde, now in his seventies, whose phrasing still seemed to carry an echo of his legendary collaborations with the “King of High Cs” himself.

From the Shanghai Opera House, tenor Yu Haolei, soprano Xu Xiaoying, mezzo-soprano Wang Xiaoxi, and baritone He Chao delivered equally outstanding performances. Thanks to years of international co-productions, the Shanghai Opera House artists have honed their vocal maturity and stagecraft. Representing the new generation were soprano Giulia Mazzola and tenor Emanuele Pellegrini, both young talents supported by the Pavarotti Foundation — their presence a living tribute to Pavarotti’s lifelong mission of making classical music accessible to all.

The Light of Verdi and Donizetti Illuminates the Stage

As Maestro Lü raised his baton, the Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra opened with Verdi’s Luisa MillerOverture — a tightly woven, dramatically charged prelude that set the tone for an evening dedicated to Pavarotti’s spirit. The orchestra vividly conveyed the tension and tragic passion typical of Verdi’s middle period, bridging the romanticism of his early works with the deeper dramatic expression of his later operas.

Emanuele Pellegrini’s aria showcased his solid technique and youthful vitality — his voice like polished oak, warm yet powerful, bringing Verdi’s “fervent heart” to life with moving precision.

Yusif Eyvazov and Olga Peretyatko’s duet “Verranno a te sull’aure” dazzled the audience — her voice floated like light, shimmering even above the orchestral texture, while his dramatic tenor cut through like sunlight breaking through clouds. Their interplay of delicacy and strength entwined beautifully in Donizetti’s melody.

The Macbeth chorus “Patria oppressa!” followed — unfamiliar to many Chinese listeners, yet powerfully rendered by the Shanghai Opera House Chorus. Deep male voices rumbled like gathering thunder, while the sopranos soared with fierce defiance. Under Lü Jia’s precise control, the choral layers intertwined in perfect tension, evoking both despair and rebellion. The recurring cry “Our homeland weeps” became a collective anthem of resistance, embodying the essence of Verdi’s choral art.

Tenor Yu Haolei’s “La donna è mobile” sparkled with wit and irony, capturing the Duke’s playful arrogance with light agility. Eyvazov and Mazzola’s duet from Rigoletto bloomed from hesitant charm to passionate declaration, while the famous quartet “Bella figlia dell’amore” united Yu Haolei, Mazzola, Wang Xiaoxi, and He Chao in a storm of intertwined emotions — love, betrayal, anger, and deceit — all masterfully balanced within Verdi’s genius counterpoint.

Puccini’s Moonlight, Eternal in Music

After intermission, the focus shifted to Puccini. The orchestra began the Manon Lescaut Intermezzo with breathtaking sensitivity — strings wept in tender arpeggios, rising to tragic intensity before dissolving into mist. Lü Jia’s baton moved almost imperceptibly, drawing from the musicians a sound both translucent and soulful — a whispered lament shaped by air and light.

Veteran tenor Gregory Kunde then demonstrated why his artistry remains unmatched. In Giordano’s Amor ti vieta, his phrasing was fluid and his high notes radiant. His duet with Peretyatko as Rodolfo and Mimì brimmed with ardent tenderness, while “Vesti la giubba” revealed the poignant self-mockery of Pagliacci’s clown — proof that the human voice can indeed pierce the heart.

Soprano Xu Xiaoying’s “Signore, ascolta” followed — her voice both bright and velvety, each phrase supported with unwavering breath, capturing Liu’s pure devotion in Turandot. Her quartet with Yu Haolei, Mazzola, and He Chao from La Bohème illuminated the contrasts between two lovers’ joys and heartbreaks — parallel stories of tenderness and loss.

Finally, the joyous strains of Verdi’s “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” filled the hall. With Maestro Lü turning toward the audience, clapping along, the entire hall joined in rhythmic celebration — a perfect, festive finale to the night.

One Voice for Love — Nessun dorma Forever

As the encore began, O Sole Mio once again resonated through the hall, sung by all the artists together. Some in the audience hummed along instinctively, their hearts tied by an invisible thread to Pavarotti’s immortal melody.

Written in 1898, this Neapolitan song found new life through Pavarotti’s voice, becoming his signature encore piece. Each time, smiling, handkerchief in hand, he would return to the stage and fill the air with his rich, golden tone — a gesture that became a timeless ritual etched in the memories of all who witnessed it. The evening concluded with the ensemble singing Happy Birthday in honor of the great maestro’s 90th year.

Nicoletta Mantovani, Pavarotti’s widow and President of the Pavarotti Foundation, took the stage to express her joy and gratitude:

“Tonight we celebrate my husband Luciano Pavarotti’s 90th birthday, and I am deeply moved that such a meaningful concert takes place here in China — a country he loved dearly. He visited China four times, twice to Shanghai. This concert has been magnificent. My heartfelt thanks go to all the artists involved. China and Italy share ancient histories — their cultural exchange is truly wonderful. Tonight we heard beautiful voices from around the world; this is the magic of music: in the name of art and love, it connects people beyond borders. Thank you all for an unforgettable night. I hope we meet again soon.”

Then, as footage of Pavarotti’s Nessun dorma filled the screen, the hall fell silent — and time seemed to turn back to July 7, 1990, at Rome’s Baths of Caracalla, the eve of the World Cup final, when Pavarotti, alongside Domingo and Carreras under Zubin Mehta, illuminated the night sky with their voices.

Applause, singing, cheers, and tears merged as one. This was more than a concert — it was a bridge across time, a heartfelt tribute to a man who embodied the golden age of opera. Through the voices of today’s artists, his spirit and music found eternity anew.

Those soaring notes, those radiant high Cs, that unwavering love for music — all remain forever in the hearts of those who listened.
Because they knew that what they witnessed was not just a performance —
but a profound homage to the King of High Cs,
and to a golden era that will never fade.

Text by Wen Xin

Ph © Liu Fang