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By William Van Zyl
Published in 2019.
Contents
Lesson #1: Keep the family together – always try to reconcile – never give up. 7
Lesson #2: Love people, trust people. 9
Lesson #3: Show compassion, help people – be selfless. 10
Lesson #4: Be humble and honest; enjoy the simple things in life. 11
Lesson #6: Follow your heart; stay true to yourself and ignore the critics. 14
Lesson #7: Set goals. Never give up pursuing those goals and dreams. 15
Lesson #9: Develop spiritual depth; be inspired from the inside out. 16
LESSONS ON GREATNESS: THE LIFE OF LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
*Credit image of Pavarotti on the front book cover: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
‘Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.’
Anne Frank
Credit: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/anne_frank_752405?src=t_greatness
Table of Contents
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 in 2019) – 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 newspaper 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, screened in 2019, gives an account of the famous soprano’s life. For 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? Aren’t iconic people like Pavarotti supposed to marry and live happily ever after?
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 vulnerabilities, and with failures. 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.
Luciano Pavarotti, left, chatting with Fort Lauderdale Symphony music director Emerson Buckley. Credit Flickr.com. Photo by Roy Erickson. https://www.flickr.com/photos/floridamemory/3878233545
Do you feel encouraged now? Yes, the contrast between defeat and victory gives us an aerial view of our own lives. It provides cross-sections through time. Are your imperfection, your mountains and ravines, appearing in your memory now? Are those mountain-top and valley-low experiences now conjured up in your mind and spirit? Do you see those defeats, those weaknesses? Awesome. Congratulations, we are human. Our challenge is to do the right thing – every time.
Oprah Winfrey in her interview with Bishop TD Jakes, looks into the camera toward the end of the interview (‘Masterclass – 2017’) and repeats the following phrase several times – as if she wants to drive a point home – she said: ‘Do the right thing, please do the right thing, the most important thing is to do the right thing.’ What a powerful statement! It really hits home. You can find the interview on YouTube.
Did Pavarotti do the right thing? Let us discover if he has.
In the documentary (released in 2019) ‘Pavarotti’s’ first wife, his children, and his late second wife agreed to talk about him on camera. An achievement in itself. Why? They acknowledge his greatness. Luciano endeavoured to make things right. He was generous with the divorce settlement with Adua Veroni, his first wife. He endeavoured to be as fair as he could be with the distribution of his wealth and estate after he passed away. Let’s look at the lessons.
Lesson #1: Keep the family together – always try to reconcile – never give up.
Luciano tried to keep the family together. After the devastating divorce from his first wife, he did everything in his power to settle generously with his wife. Even towards the end, he tried everything to get the family together. Remarkable! Pavarotti says in the documentary, ‘I love people; I love to be around people; I trust people unreservedly.’ Even if it is to his detriment, his smile and his embracing arms always had a place for another friend and loved one – he encapsulated the ultimate loving and embracing persona.
When one of his daughters fell ill, he cancelled performances to be with her. Family first.
I will summarise the rest of the lessons in the next couple of paragraphs. I was inspired after viewing the awesome documentary in July 2019 and doing some research. Truly magnificent!
The grave of Luciano Pavarotti. Note that Luciano is at the bottom of this tombstone. See the inscriptions and pictures of his late family above his name – Luciano is not at the top – his family is. Credit: Dr Norbert Heidenbluth – Modena (Suburbs): CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60712891
The Jailhouse Principle:
I think I hear someone thinking about those severed relationships. You are probably asking, what if the relationship is damaged beyond repair?; what if the person or persons won’t listen to an apology?; what if you don’t have the chance to reconcile or even redeem or explain yourself? It could be too painful to address. You could find yourself in jail. Yes, I am sure we all know that place – the prison of the soul. Excruciating.
Did you know that more than 60 per cent of ailments and sicknesses are psychosomatic? It means the sickness or ailment starts in the soul. One of the biggest destroyers of health is unforgiveness. It eats us up from the inside if we don’t forgive and deal with it.
Let me explain the Jailhouse Principle. On the word forgiveness:
Forgiveness can even lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing the harm done to you or making up with the person who caused the harm. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps you go on with life. The same is true if you have done wrong to someone else. You will need to apologise from the heart. You have to be really remorseful. You have to say sorry and mean it from the heart – verbalise it. You have to learn from that experience and don’t do it again. Yes, you will also have to forgive yourself. Forgiveness means to be free. To be out of jail (soul dimension). In short, that is the Jailhouse Principle. Forgiveness is powerful – it will set you free.
When you use the words, I forgive you (or ‘please forgive me’), shackles are broken off, fetters are shattered, and prison doors swing open. If it is true and from the heart, you are free. Embrace forgiveness – even if you can’t say it. Repeat it many times per day – it works. Take courage and start saying if. No matter how painful it is. Do it. You will feel the burden lifting. Soon you will be able to say it aloud. Why sit in jail, sick and miserable? Use your mouth to free yourself. Forgive. Ask for forgiveness. Be free. Sleep well.
Lesson #2: Love people, trust people.
Wait a minute. Trust people? Yes, I just said trust people. Not unreservedly, but be ready and be open to give everyone a fair chance to prove their genuineness. People feel that goodness; they feel the love. That magnetic field around people, considered as great – a golden aura of love and trust – contributes to the warm persona of greatness.
Greatness oozed out of Pavarotti. Look at him singing, and then, as his smile breaks through at the end – or talking to people – his eyes radiate love. It is a sign of true love for all people. You can’t fake it. The eyes are the windows of the soul. Love people, they will recognize it immediately. Trust people. Be as careful as a snake, upright and transparent as a dove.
The great Luciano Pavarotti. Credit: Flickr.com. From Kennedy centre honours 2001 Washington D.C. Photographer: John Mathew Smith Copyright 2001. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingkongphoto/4147722756
Lesson #3: Show compassion, help people – be selfless.
Pavarotti became involved in raising funds for the poor and disadvantaged. Philanthropy became a passion for Luciano. He was a personal friend of Lady Dianna. He loved to help people in need. Pavarotti annually hosted the Pavarotti & Friends charity concerts in his home town of Modena, Italy, joining with singers from all parts of the music industry, including B.B. King, Andrea Bocelli, Zucchero, Jon Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Bono, James Brown, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Céline Dion, Anastacia, Elton John, Deep Purple, Meat Loaf, Queen, George Michael, Tracy Chapman, the Spice Girls, Sting, and Barry White to raise money for several UN causes. Commendable. Concerts were also held for War Children and victims of war and civil unrest in Bosnia, Guatemala, Kosovo and Iraq. After the war in Bosnia, he financed and established the Pavarotti Music Centre in the southern city of Mostar to allow Bosnia’s artists to develop their skills. For these contributions, the city of Sarajevo named him an honorary citizen in 2006.
Let us investigate Bill Gates’ development of greatness. Consider the yardstick of greatness for a moment. Bill’s mother urged him early in his business career to volunteer and get involved with philanthropy. People who want to raise the bar regarding service, loyalty, and greatness have to volunteer and give. Give from the heart. Give to worthwhile causes. There is a reward in giving. ‘Give, and it will be given to you…’
Lesson #4: Be humble and honest; enjoy the simple things in life.
‘Put Molto Garlic, spice in your homemade spaghetti sauce.’
Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano loved Italian food. The movie shows about 28 bags of the singer in a picture while on tour. His secretary (later his second wife), said he doesn’t pack his bags; he doesn’t even know what is in the bags. There must have been homemade spaghetti and molten garlic sauce in them – one of his favourites. Enjoy your passion. It is the simple things in life which bring joy.
When Pavarotti arrived in Beijing for his first performance in China, he was featured on a bicycle riding through the streets of the large city. The front wheel was flicking dangerously to the right and left; his smile kept the bike on track. Hilarious! He forgot about everything. Luciano got on the bicycle and laughed all the way through the streets of the megacity. He was going to have fun. Be like a child – enjoy the moment. People will love you for your naive and innocent approach when having fun. Be a child from time to time.
Video: Luciano Pavarotti in China – funny La Donna e Mobile.
Pavarotti on a bicycle in the streets of Beijing. Hilariously funny. He is happy – he has the world at his feet. Video: https://youtu.be/8PdP9JOkoLo
On his sickbed before passing away, he and his daughter were listening to the recording of his voice from one of his performances. He humbly looked at her and said, ‘I was good.’ He never wanted to listen to his voice. Only at the end, when he could not sing anymore and time was running out for him, he acknowledged his extraordinary talent. True humbleness.
‘In the world I am famous, but when I am at home I am nothing.’
Pavarotti.
When asked about his wife, his children, and his home, he said with a big smile,
‘In the world, I am famous and I get all the attention I want, but when I am at home, I am nothing.’
His family knew him well; all his weaknesses and limitations were exposed. Acknowledge your limitations as a person. We are but merely limited, flawed humans. Be humble. Function at an authentic level when at home. You can’t fool anyone. They know you. Embrace it.
Luciano also recognised and acknowledged that his talent had nothing to do with him. He received it as a gift from God. He was humble.
‘Break a leg,’ was not a saying of Luciano. Just before a performance, he used to say, ‘I am going to die; I am going to my death.’
He acknowledged his limitation and nervousness as a singer before a performance. The high expectations and anticipation before a performance must have been overwhelming. Remember, everything pivoted on him and his voice – he had nothing to hide behind. Just him and his ‘naked voice’ on the stage, with thousands of people listening with expectation. There is beauty in humility and honesty. Acknowledge your weaknesses and mistakes. People will love you for it.
Lesson #5: Networking and connecting with people – choose knowledgeable and smart people as your friends and managers.
After Pavarotti performed with Domingo and Carreras during the world cup in 1996, opera and the signature of Pavarotti went viral. Pavarotti’s photograph and his name were printed and branded on every possible item. It appeared on screens, mugs, t-shirts, badges, magazines, posters, CDs, and books; everywhere you looked was PAVAROTTI. A megastar was born. Good strategical marketing and media will provide a thrust. A thrust of fame. How did it happen for Luciano? He met and networked with smart people. Pavarotti’s new friends and associates had the skills and the tools to catapult Pavarotti into stardom. Of course, they also benefited from it. It was a win-win situation. Everyone had the opportunity to benefit. Pavarotti perfectly played the role of a dear friend and close associate. For his friends and associates, his managers planned, orchestrated, and executed it perfectly. Success breeds success!
Did you know Pavarotti holds the Guinness World Record for the most curtain calls? It is believed that he received an astonishing 165 curtain calls.
The first Three Tenors Concert, held on the eve of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final at the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome with fellow tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and conductor Zubin Mehta, was the beginning of the branding of Pavarotti worldwide. The performance for the World Cup closing concert captivated a global audience, and it became the biggest-selling classical record of all time. Reach out and make friends. Network and connect with people.
His very smart manager at the time, had the vision to print Pavarotti’s name and pictures on almost everything the people would buy. It was a very prudent move that proved extremely successful. This business acumen, designed and timed to perfection, netted more and more profits. This marketing strategy catapulted Luciano into the stratosphere. Pavarotti’s dream came true: he brought opera to the masses. Remember, it is about the people. The most important thing in life is people. Invest in people.
Lesson #6: Follow your heart; stay true to yourself and ignore the critics.
Pavarotti held on to his identity as an Italian, an opera singer, a lover of classical music, a Catholic, a family man, and a lover of food. Never change to impress or to please others. Be very careful when you listen to your critics. Not everyone is your friend. Remember, always stay true to yourself. Protect your very core; do your real ‘me.’ Don’t give up your identity – celebrate it. Stay unique.
Luciano Pavarotti, Mandalay Bay, 1999. Credit: Flickr. Dan Perry. https://www.flickr.com/photos/golf_pictures/2329493400
Lesson #7: Set goals. Never give up pursuing those goals and dreams.
Pavarotti wanted to take opera to the masses. In the end, he succeeded. He never gave up. It is interesting how the breakthrough came for him. It started when he reached out to a friend, the soprano Carreras. When Carreras was diagnosed with Leukaemia, his career went into a downward spiral. Pavarotti invited Domingo – the other famous soprano – and Carreras to perform in Italy in 1994 during the soccer world cup. It was an instant success. It became a phenomenon. Take Winston Churchill’s famous words, ‘Never, never, never, give up,’ and write them in your heart and in your mind. Never give up on your dreams!
From my sketchbook: Pavarotti received a standing ovation at the end of his performances. Watercolours, fountain pen and pencil. Credit: William Van Zyl – May 2020.
Lesson #8: Make eye contact and focus on the person you are communicating with; let people feel special.
Luciano always endeavoured to give special attention to people. Once, he sang an aria in the opera chamber to a special couple – husband and wife – before a performance. Think about how special that would have been to the couple. Remarkable. Never be too important; make time for people. Treat people with respect and honour.
Lesson #9: Develop spiritual depth; be inspired from the inside out.
When he communicated with the famous artist Bono about performing together, Bono asked him what he could possibly sing with him. Bono was out of his depth. As a Catholic, Pavarotti’s comment was, ‘God will inspire you.’ Develop deep spiritual values it will inspire you from the inside out. It will build and establish additional substrata to you as a person.
In one of his songs in the documentary (2019), at the end of the movie, Pavarotti sings about the Mercy of God. He is portrayed as vulnerable as he sings, ‘God have mercy on me.’ Fear God. Ask for mercy.
The great Luciano Pavarotti. Art media at the top of the sketch – watercolours half pans (Schmincke) and watercolour pencils (top far right ). Credit: The Author. May 2020.
Sketchbook notes: The 9 Lessons on Greatness – Luciano Pavarotti. Credit: The Author. 2020.
Copyright © 2019 by William Van Zyl
LESSONS ON GREATNESS: THE LIFE OF LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
All rights reserved. This book or any portion
thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the express written permission of the
publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Published by First House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, 2019
More about the author: http://williamvanzyl.com/
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