Pavarotti leaves centre stage

NEW YORK (NY Metropolitan Opera Website) - The audience groaned when Metropolitan Opera general manager Joseph Volpe walked to the stage before the third act of Tosca. Luciano Pavarotti performed his final opera appearance in New York City's Metropolitan Opera on Saturday night.
For 10 minutes after the curtain fell, the Opera house thundered with repeated applause and unequivocal adoration.

The adulation was not so much for the evening's performance as it was recognition of the 68-year old Italian's extraordinary career, during which he was widely credited with bringing opera to the masses through popular recordings and stadium extravaganzas.

Clearly moved by the outpouring from fans, Pavarotti made numerous curtain calls, alone and with members of the cast, stretching out his arms and blowing kisses to the audience. Pavarotti has said his performance Saturday night will be his last of a staged opera at the Met, where he made his debut in November 1968. He will now begin a farewell tour around the world and plans to retire at the end of 2005.