Date: 7th August 2013
Rome 1990, the Baths of Caracalla - this was the first appearance by the "Three Tenors" - Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras and Placido Domingo - and was to lead to many more such "gala" nights in the next ten years.
Yet it was purely by chance that BBC TV soccer commentator Gerald Sinstadt, looking for suitable music to introduce the BBC's 1990 World Cup coverage in Italy, decided on Puccini's "Nessum Dorma", in the version sung by Pavarotti. This inspired choice led to the concept of the "Three Tenors" concerts. In his youth, the big man was a soccer player and played in goal for Modena before choosing a singing career. All three singers are self-confessed soccer fanatics.
However, Carreras was recovering from leukemia and had not been expected to sing again. He had no money and it's an open secret that this concert was to help get him back on his feet. The three tenors came together at the Caracalla Baths, an open-air site just outside Rome, and gave a performance which was as joyful and vibrant as the 1990 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina had been limp and turgid.
Old and new favourites, operatic and musical (including the soccer anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" from 'Carousel'), Italian and Neopolitan songs under the baton of Zubin Mehta - this concert lit the blue touchpaper and we've been admiring the "Three Tenors" ever since.
Click on TRAILER to get a foretaste of this remarkable concert
Wednesday 7 August
Doors open 6.30 pm; film starts at 7 pm.
Tickets, R20 available on the door.
