You expect Pavarotti’s voice to blow you away, but what’ll surprise you is hearing guys like Bono, Stevie Wonder, and Plácido Domingo reflect on him like they’re talking about a rock god.
I rank “Pavarotti” #2 in my list of “Best Opera Documentaries” (I’ve got 8 so far!).
Trailer for “Pavarotti”
Watch “Pavarotti”
You can watch “Pavarotti” on:
- Kanopy for free at https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/pavarotti-1
- Hoopla for free at https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/14765158
You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/pavarotti (Apple TV had it for $3.99 last I checked)
Ratings:
- My Rating: 94/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 97/100 (Users); 87/100 (Critics)
Release date: June 4, 2019
My Review of “Pavarotti”
“Pavarotti” is a moving tribute to the legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
Directed by Ron Howard, this documentary spans 114 minutes, blending rare footage with interviews from family, friends, and colleagues.
The doc follows Pavarotti’s life from his humble beginnings in Modena, Italy, through his meteoric rise to international fame.
The man was larger than life.
He wasn’t just about arias and tuxedos. He had an incredible warmth that crossed language and cultural barriers. You see it here—those spontaneous grins and infectious joy.
Pavarotti’s Start and Rise He started as the son of a baker with dreams of football (the soccer kind), but his passion for singing soon took over.
The doc shows early black-and-white footage of Pavarotti in his early performances. You feel the weight of expectation and the raw talent in those moments.
His breakthrough came in 1961 when he debuted as Rodolfo in “La Bohème” at the Reggio Emilia opera house. From there, it was one packed concert hall after another, as his effortless high C’s left audiences stunned.
But his career truly reached a new level with The Three Tenors concert in 1990 alongside Plácido Domingo and José Carreras.
The doc replays the iconic night at the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome, which is still the best-selling classical music album of all time. That was Pavarotti at his absolute peak, bringing opera to millions who had never set foot in an opera house.
Off-Stage Highlights What makes this doc stand out is its exploration of Pavarotti’s personal life—especially his complicated relationships.
His two marriages, to Adua Veroni and Nicoletta Mantovani, frame different chapters of his life. Ron Howard doesn’t shy away from the messiness: the infidelities, the media frenzy, the divorce.
You see the strain fame had on his personal life.
But through it all, there’s this undeniable love for music and family that shines through, despite his flaws.
There’s a touching segment where his second wife, Mantovani, speaks about their daughter Alice, born when Pavarotti was in his late 60s. It adds a layer of warmth and vulnerability, showing how much family meant to him, even later in life.
Beyond the Opera Stage The documentary also delves into Pavarotti’s humanitarian side. He wasn’t just about singing. His charity concerts, particularly the “Pavarotti & Friends” series, raised millions for war-torn regions and impoverished areas around the world.
These concerts featured unlikely collaborations with rock stars like Bono, Sting, and Elton John, showing how deeply he cared about using his voice for good.
One of the standout moments in the doc is Pavarotti singing “Miss Sarajevo” with U2 in 1995.
It’s a haunting performance, made more poignant by footage from the war-torn city. You realize Pavarotti wasn’t just a voice, but a conduit for something much bigger.
You Can’t Make This $hit Up
At one point, the doc reveals Pavarotti’s pre-performance ritual, where he would sleep for hours, eat a massive meal of pasta and wine, and then go sing like a god.
It’s hard to believe that level of indulgence could coexist with his vocal precision, but it’s true—Pavarotti was a man of grand appetites in every sense.
Also, Pavarotti Refuses to Wear Tuxedo Pants – he reportedly refused to wear them because he found them too tight and uncomfortable.
Instead, he wore black sweatpants under his tuxedo jacket. Nobody in the audience could tell!
Director’s Touch Howard strikes a delicate balance in showing Pavarotti’s greatness and vulnerability. The film has a cinematic quality, using sweeping shots of Italian landscapes and archival footage to transport you.
It’s clear that Howard wanted this to be more than just a celebration of a great tenor—he wanted to explore the human side of this legend.
Howard also brings in colleagues like Zubin Mehta and José Carreras to give their insights on Pavarotti’s influence, not only on opera but on music as a whole.
Lesser-Known Moments
- The doc shares Pavarotti’s obsession with scarves, which he would often wear off-stage due to a fear of getting a sore throat.
- There’s an anecdote about his first performance in America, where he wasn’t as well-known, but one high C during “La fille du régiment” changed that overnight.
- His famous collaboration with Princess Diana is explored briefly, showing a tender friendship and mutual respect that few outside the opera world knew about.
- One of his lesser-known performances for a small crowd at a music school in his hometown is shown, which speaks volumes about how grounded he remained despite his fame.
- A rare clip shows Pavarotti struggling with nerves before a major performance, something rarely associated with his larger-than-life persona.
Final Thoughts “Pavarotti” is more than a tribute—it’s a deep dive into the soul of an artist who transcended the opera world. Whether you’re an opera aficionado or a complete newcomer, you’ll walk away with a sense of having known the man behind the voice. His humor, his insecurities, and his zest for life are all captured here. You’ll smile, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably go searching for his performances on YouTube right after.
There’s a reason Pavarotti’s voice endures. It wasn’t just his technique. It was his passion. And this doc does justice to both.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc