I fell in love with Luciano Pavarotti in 1976. I fell in love with The Flaming Lips Friday night.
Luciano Pavarotti ('Looch' as I like to call him) came into my life as part of my studies. At the time, I was a vocal student - soprano - studying legitimate music. Through my hard work, it was inevitable I would seek out recordings of artists singing the same material. Coincidentally, it was the same time that Looch hit the big time - he was all over the world and was just hitting strides with his fame.
Well, I fell for him hard. Not so much for his looks (though he did have a handsome way about him), nor his actual singing (though he moves me to tears every time I hear his Paliacci or his version of Nessun Dorma). Nope - I really tumbled when I saw him on PBS, teaching a master class at Juliard.
Oh. My. God. He was so wonderful. Not only did this man know his stuff inside and out, he lived it, he breathed it, he DEVOURED it. His joy for his music and teaching was contagious - in ways that made me think how I myself would HAVE to be a teacher in the arts one day. Whenever a student would sing - no hacks either, mind you - this was Juliard - Looch gave them attention as if he was hearing this music for the first time in his life. He actually cried at times, he was so moved by the young students and their complete expressions. After each student sang, he would gently offer critique to that student - a breath later here, a crescendo there - all the while helping interpret the lyrics and the true meaning of the song. Well, each student would then SOAR - it was if his insight helped them to go where they had never been before. That program is etched forever in my memory. And while I have had incredible teachers in similar master classes, his presence is what I think of before every performance I do.
Nothing, however, will match the concert I saw him in in Dallas a few years later. My mother and I went and we shared some wonderful moments that evening. His final encore was Nessun Dorma. Though there were 20,000 people there, he sang it only to me. I wept - I could not move from my seat. My mother patiently sat near me as I composed myself to finally leave - I am sure long after Looch left for his hotel.
Mom and I still have some debate here and there as to who was the BEST tenor of our time - Pavarotti or Placido Domingo? She pulls for Domingo, I for my endearing Looch. While Domingo is undoubtably a skilled singer, to me, Pavarotti always sang from his heart. Domingo has beautiful interpretations, but Looch always made me FEEL the song - I would literally become breathless at times from the sheer joy or torment expressed in his singing.
Sadly, Pavarotti left us last week - off to sing for the ultimate command performance. On the day of his death, my classical music station played his works all day long. With each performance and interview I heard, I could not help but whisper to myself, "Oh, Looch..." The memories of his voice and his impression upon me flooded my mind and I was once again transported to another place and time.
One of the things that Looch truly believed in was the need for young artists and how the pop musician could change the world. Whenever he wanted to support a charity, he went to the pop singers, knowing they would reach a far larger audience than he ever could. If he had gone with me Friday night to The Flaming Lips concert, he would have beamed.
I had never heard of The Flaming Lips, much less seen them in concert. However, my dear girlfriend asked me to go, so I went. She and I always had a great time together and I figured this night would be no exception.
God, was it hot in there. Held at the old Aragon Ballroom just a block away from Al Capone's old speakeasy, the concert was packed with Flaming Lips fans all over the place. The air conditioning was a joke, but no matter. The folks were there to see their band and no amount of heat and humidity would deter them.
These days, the Flaming Lips are known as much for their flamboyant showmanship as their music. I could go on about their unique use of props and lights and sound and balloons, but that is not the point. What impressed me most was the heartfelt performance of this band and how much they truly loved what they were doing.
Like most artists of late, the lead singer Wayne Coyne spoke against the Bush administration and the Iraq war. What struck me, however, was not hatred or anger; rather his emphasis was on the misuse of power and what would the world be like if we focused our energy elsewhere. He pushed the love and happiness in the world and helped us to see that there is another side - a tremendous side - to our own spirit and how we should handle our own lives, especially our own power.
I was deeply moved by their performance, and while I was listening to the crowd sing along to "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", I thought of Looch. I just imagined him seated next to me, eyes ablaze, loving the joy permeating that room.
Thanks, Flaming Lips...
and...
goodbye, sweet Luciano.
Laura Wells is a teacher, acting coach, actress and singer. She holds a degree in education and has been teaching various subjects for over 10 years. Covering a variety of topics, Laura has designed courses for the individual who wants to study either on their own or with a group. These courses are simple, down-to-earth and are designed for everyone to enjoy without the time commitment or pressure of an academic environment.
A graduate of Richland College in Dallas and The University of Texas at Austin, Laura currently lives and teaches from her home on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.
Source: www.articletrader.com
