You should have heard about the Three Tenors at least once. The names of Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti have already been written in music history. Few artists into opera and classical music have been as renowned as these three. They performed dozens of highly-publicized concerts in the 1990s and early 200s.
How They Were Born
What you may not know, however, is the cause the united these three superstars – the reason for which the Three Tenors were born. Back in the late 1980s, Jose Carreras, the youngest and most promising of the three was diagnosed with leukemia, a disease that put his life at the biggest risk.
However, despite the overwhelming odds against, Carreras lived on. He survived and rapidly went back to the stage. As a way of commemorating Carreras return to music, his good friends and fellow tenors Pavarotti and Domingo organized a concert together – the first time tenors would be singing along outside an opera-house atmosphere.
And so the Three Tenors were born. On the epic setting of the Roman Baths of Caracalla, conducted by the legendary Zubin Mehta and in the midst of the World Cup 1990 Finals, held in Italy.
What Makes Them Special
This romantic setting made the concert special. Just imagine – three of the world’s most beautiful voices singing along in these gigantic 2000-year old Roman ruins. It’s something unique and out of this world – I have been to the Caracalla Baths and just to imagine hearing these guys playing there makes me shiver, nothing less.
The orchestra was flawless, Mehta gigantic and the tenors epic. And best –parts of the concert were completely improvised. It was pure charm. You could see the three giving instructions to each other while they were in the middle of an O’Sole Mio performance.
What You Can Learn
1) Appealing To The Masses.
The Three Tenors settled a few world records, all of which have something to teach us. They composed the first classical music best-seller – a feat many had tried but no one could achieve. This is big – just think about it. Big names tried and couldn’t and these three found the recipe: they combined old opera classics as La Dona E Mobile with popular current hits as Sinatra’s signature My Way – a winner mix.
If you have something that is not totally appealing to the masses – transform it into something that could. Keep the essence, keep the charm and just add a bit of the other. It won’t hurt and the results will be cool.
2) Timing Matters.
They also chose the best times for their most important concerts: always just before the World Cup was drawing to an end. No other event gathers so much attention and audience as the football tournament – Not the Super Bowl and not even the Olympics. The World Cup owns the world. Bundling the concerts with the World Cup made it inevitable for people to at least hear once or twice about Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti.
I wonder what could have happened if their concerts were not hand-in-hand with the World Cups. They rocked Europe in 1990 and America in 1994 – There was no way to escape from them. They had value, they were cool, and they spread. Whenever you are starting something or planning something big, think about the right time to act. Don’t wait too long, but find the best window to stand out.
3) Charisma Makes The Difference.
Pavarotti is one of the most charismatic singers I’ve ever seen. Not really physically attractive as Domingo or Carreras, he still managed to charm and make huge audiences fall in love with him. The great Luciano did it the classy way: not by shouting to the crowds nor saying stupid things on stage. Instead he kept a great smile and made those little gestures that matter.
Watching Pavarotti is watching a man in love with life – and that’s what makes him irradiate so much charm. Just to give you an idea, in 2006, shortly before he passed away and in a very deteriorated state, he still went on and sang for the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Torino. Not as lively as before, just by throwing, with a smile, a big kiss into the air he sent the whole crowd roaring. That’s the little gestures I tell you about.
Carreras and Domingo don’t stay behind either. They helped transforming a genre that would otherwise be dull and too correct by giving guests the opportunity not to fall in love with the characters only but with the men behind. Learn from them, because for whatever you do in your life you’ll achieve better results and bigger success if you make people like you.
Didn’t Get The Record Yet?
I’m a fanatic of the Three Tenors (to the point I even cried when Pavarotti passed away). I got all their biggest concerts on DVD and CDs. If you want to buy them yourself, try out the following links. I don’t think I’ll be recommending any other piece of music in the future – this is the best music can get =)
DVDs:
The Three Tenors Original Concert (Rome, 1990)
The Three Tenors in Los Angeles (Los Angeles, 1994)
The Three Tenors in France (Paris, 1998)
The Three Tenors For Christmas
Music:
The Three Tenors Original Concert (Rome, 1990)
The Best of The Three Tenors
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Buenos Aires, Argentina.