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Introduction.

This article has unexpected rewards for the reader. Yes, I have delved into the deep layers of Luciano Pavarotti’s life so you can benefit from it. I have viewed the documentary by Ron Howard – Pavarotti (released in2019) – and made some notes so you can profit from it.

Maybe as I see it, from a different angle, could surprise you. A short read –just what you want to know – is included in this article. Short lessons learned and listed. It includes deep, rich layers of interpretation; unexpected connections, and polished nuggets of wisdom and understanding. They are all condensed and hidden along the way. Ready?

The black and white newspapers tabloids shocked readers around the world. How can one see the picture of the famous and loved Luciano Pavarotti with the words ‘divorces his wife’ next to his picture? I am sure you can remember. Yes – I know – this heading is so familiar when it gets to famous people. NEVERTHELESS, how could this event teach us anything?

Luciano Pavarotti – ‘oh not him!’ – the great Italian family man filing for divorce? It can’t be. The world reeled in disbelief in 1996.

Soon he married his secretary Nicoletta Mantovani – 34 years his junior – in 2004.

The film produced recently, and screened in 2019, gives an account of the life of the famous soprano’s life. For the about one hour and thirty minutes filmmaker, Ron Howard and historians stitched the life of Luciano together in one tremendous short story. Old patches on new fabric – warts and all. The scar – his divorce – stands out towards the end. A large patch. The love in his heart – and the consequent beam on his face when he talks about his family – covers that scar. We all have scars and patches.

You may reason, how can you use him as an icon of greatness? His divorce tarnished the very image of greatness. How will you ‘Photoshop’ this fact out of the bigger picture, you may ask? Isn’t iconic people, like Pavarotti, supposed to marry and live happily ever after?

From my sketchbook: Pavarotti receiving a standing ovation at the end of his performance. Watercolours, fountain pen and pencil. Credit: William Van Zyl – May 2020. 

Let me answer that question quickly before I list the short life lessons on greatness here. It is in his brokenness and in his imperfections that we can take courage and be inspired. Greatness is blemished. We can all identify with mistakes, with weaknesses, with vulnerability, and with failure. Right? However, that does not mean that we have to live defeated. Don’t live in the zone of pathologies. Stand up, shake it off, and make it right as far as you can. Move on. Use it as a lesson learned. That is the beauty of greatness – it is imperfect.

Link to a follow up article:

LESSONS ON GREATNESS: THE LIFE OF LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

fivehousepublishing.com/2019/06/20/crushing-an-unexpected-route-to-greatness/