Talking With David Frost: Luciano Pavarotti

I hope you've all finished your macaroni, kids, because now it's time for a big, puffy, gooey dessert from David Frost. This is a fawning tribute, full of sweet music from Pavarotti and sugary frosting from...never mind. The interview is set in a restaurant, appropriately enough, and is intercut with live performances, including several Three Tenors concerts. The discussion ranges from Pavarotti's personal and family history (related with good humor by the singer), through his professional beginnings and influences, and ends up with plans for the future. In between we discover that Pavarotti is superstitious (in Italy they touch iron), hear about his technique for breathing and memorization, and learn how important heart (and girth) are to the voice, which is like a separate creature that inhabits his body. It is all somewhat interesting going down, but never offers any satisfying insights or surprises. Frost asks his usual combination of polite, common questions mixed with obsequious remarks and gets his subject to expand on himself geometrically. There is a professional pace to the editing, and the sound serves the music well. But at almost $70.00, it's too many empty calories for most general collections. Recommended for larger music collections only. (E. Druda)