英语新闻视频 Italian tenor Pavarotti dies at age 71

 

One of the great voices of the age has fallen silent. Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti is dead. Hailed by many as the greatest tenor¹ of his generation, Pavarotti died in the early hours of Thursday in his hometown of Modena. Word comes from his manager Terri Robson.
Pavarotti, was released from hospital late last month after undergoing more than two weeks of tests and treatment. He was at home in the company of family and close friends when he died.
Pavarotti underwent surgery last July to remove a pancreatic tumor². Cancer surgery forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his 2006 farewell opera tour.
The 71-year-old star vowed³ to return to the stage this year. But he did not re-emerge after his surgery. A number of planned appearances in the past few months were cancelled.
The rotund, black-bearded tenor known as "Big Luciano" helped bring opera to the masses. He performed to vast stadium audiences around the world.
He rocketed to fame following a stand-in appearance at London's Covent Garden in 1963. Soon critics were gushing⁴ about his voluminous voice.
Luciano Pavarotti said, "I make people happy. I know God has done something special for me. He kissed my vocal⁵ cords, and that I know."
Pavarotti's last public performance came at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin in February 2006. He sang Puccini's aria⁶ "Nessun Dorma".

1 tenor   

n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意

参考例句：

• The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
• The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。

2 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 gushing   

adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• blood gushing from a wound 从伤口冒出的血
• The young mother was gushing over a baby. 那位年轻的母亲正喋喋不休地和婴儿说话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

6 aria   

n.独唱曲，咏叹调

参考例句：

• This song takes off from a famous aria.这首歌仿效一首著名的咏叹调。
• The opera was marred by an awkward aria.整部歌剧毁在咏叹调部分的不够熟练。