This Day in UMS: Luciano Pavarotti
Editor’s Note: “This day in UMS History” is an occasional series of vignettes drawn from UMS’s historical archive. If you have a personal story or particular memory from attending the performance featured here, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
February 27, 1974: Luciano Pavarotti
Photo: Program for the recital.
Luciano Pavarotti’s 1974 recital in Ann Arbor was only his second of his career. At lunch with Carol Wargelin, former UMS artistic administrator, he ordered two steak dinners and devoured both as she made notes on changes in his program for the evening.
Looking up from her notes, she caught him stealing ice cream from her dessert plate. Playing to his undeniable charm, she exacted repayment by asking him to sing a favorite aria. He sang it to her, right there, sotto voice.
