Growing Up With Luciano

Growing up, it never occurred to me that having Luciano Pavarotti as a dinner guest was special.  My mother and Luciano were from the same town of Modena, Italy.  They were old friends and he was often invited for dinner at our home whenever he was in town.  The only thing I remembered was his stature, larger-than-life, and his voice that as booming could be just as soothing.  Also, that he did not fit into my sister’s VW Bug.  We found that out once when he was coming for dinner and we had to get him from his hotel to avoid the paparazzi.  He said that our home was the only place he could find “real” Modenese food and family.  My mother loved every minute of it.  Anything for Luciano, she would say.

My mother, Rina, and my father, Faliero, are in this photo with Luciano and his wife, Adua.  The photo was taken at a charity dinner dance that my mother organized.  Luciano was the main attraction and the food was all homemade by the many ladies of Highwood, Illinois.  There were the old Italian songs sung by Luciano and the aspiring opera singers that he graciously allowed to sing with him.  What a night!  It’s one I will never forget.