This Pavarotti set; The Pavarotti Edition; is a wonderful collection of Arias and songs that cover Luciano's great career. Pavarotti is THE Voice of the 20th Century and this set does him justice. It includes 10 CDs with over 750 minutes of music; Includes Music from All of His roles; has a beautiful 76 page full color booklet; Has a wonderful write up; and includes a bonus CD of Pavarotti's fist album, a 45, from 1964, which has never been released on CD before this set. Every Song is hear, This SET is a must have for every Pavarotti Fan.

...and that certainly goes without saying. My one tiny little problem with it is that his recordings of "Santa Lucia" and "Caruso" are not on this incredible box-set. Even though I have those recordings on other CDs, I still think those are very important pieces to include on this set (assuming that this set of Pavi hits would be the only compilation that that any fan of this phenomenal tenor would have). He is probably my biggest idol, and he deserves to have been one of the biggest opera stars in history.

As a boy, I heard so many hyperbolic references to the legendary Enrico Caruso that I chose to purchase a remastered copy of his "Greatest Hits" when I first began to acquire recordings as a young man. Soon after, I discovered Pavarotti and my life was changed by his music. Caruso ended up in the Goodwill Store. I am convinced that in 500 years, should the earth cool again and the Muslim hoards abate, the civilized world will still tell tales of the greatest tenor. I have often found myself grumpy when searching for recordings of Pavarotti because of the inconsistent fidelity of the recordings. That search for the definitive Pavarotti recordings, regarding both content and fidelity, has ended with the release of this extraordinary collection. Worth it's weight in gold, the Puccinni Volume (#5) alone is enough to send someone like me into hyperspace. I am astounded by the beauty and power of these performances. I will always remember the day, not long ago, when a NPR commentator glibly mentioned between the weather and the night's playlist the terrible words, "Luciano Pavarotti has announced that he is retiring from Opera." I felt as if something indescribably beautiful was fading from the world. Of course, beauty in all of its earthly forms is fleeting at best, but these discs contain a reflection of it that will surely bolster any soul.

It includes my favorite, the rare La Ghirlandeina which he sang to win a competition in Wales early on to help launch his career -- it is a traditional song of the Cathedral in Modena, his home. If you do not know it, google it and play the Youtube version.