Distant Harmony: Pavarotti in China

In 1986, the great operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, then at the apex of his career, made an historic singing tour of China. Documenting this remarkable cultural exchange, director DeWitt Sage's Distant Harmony offers Pavarotti reprising his signature role of Rodolfo in La Boheme as well as numerous solo performances (all delivered with remarkable audio fidelity on the film soundtrack). If Sage had been content to focus on Pavarotti's singing, the result would have been entertaining but predictable. What takes it over the top is Pavarotti's exuberant interaction with his hosts--his charming manner with children, his patience and insight during a master class with Chinese opera singers, his amusing participation in a Chinese kabuki-style performance. The director captures the sum of Pavarotti, and that sum was a joy that the Chinese found quite infectious. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Van Vleck)