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Pavarotti and Friends
Charity for the children of Afghanistan
Every year, the celebrated Italian singer Luciano Pavarotti organizes
a benefit show for helpless children all over the world. These annual
performances in the Parco Novi Sad located in his Italian hometown Modena
have become a real tradition, and the audience can listen to world's
most famous voices from classic and pop music.
The 8th Pavarotti and Friends Night took place on 29 May 2001, this time titled »Pavarotti & Friends
for Afghanistan«. The sales of the concert will help two projects – one
taking care for Afghan women and children in refugee camps, the second one supporting
the construction of schools and medical facilities.
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| Luckily, the weather was generous during
the open-air show evening, too. Tropical temperatures made the almost 20.000 people
sweat who attended the event. |
Once again, numerous stars from the music
scene joined the event, and old as well as young artists were eager
to contribute.
After duetting with celebrities such as Bono, George Michael, the Spice
Girls, Celine Dion, Sting, Mariah Carey, or Jon Bon Jovi during the
years before, Luciano Pavarotti
sang with the 60-year old Welsh singer Tom Jones, the British cult act Deep Purple,
and the soul and jazz legends Barry White and George Benson this year – all
of them successful musicians during the last decades. On the other hand, artists
such as Morcheeba and Anastacia who joined the all-star spectacular, too, have taken
the charts much more recently.
A choir of 30 Afghan children accompanied the various musicians during
their performances.
Amongst others, the US actor Catherine Zeta-Jones and her husband
Michael Douglas were present and, both being honorary Ambassadors of
Peace of the United Nations, addressed to the audience. All the artists
ensured for proper entertainment.
More
than 1.5 millions US dollars from ticket sales (priced up to 500 EUR)
and extra donations were collected. For his commitment to the support of indigent children, 65-year old
Pavarotti will soon receive the Nanson medal that has previously been
awarded to kings and presidents only.
Pavarotti and Friends was not only broadcasted by the Italian RAI
broadcasting service but was at the same time recorded to a multitude
of digital multitrack recorders using two CANTUS/NEXUS systems.
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