Pavarotti's widow 'deeply honoured' to award prizes at North Wales festival that inspired his dream
During her trip she will also be marking several major milestones, the 70th anniversary of his first experience of the festival, the 30th anniversary of his triumphant return in 1995 and what would have been his 90th birthday on October 12 this year.
Pavarotti was just 19 and a trainee teacher when he came to the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1955 with his father, Fernando, as part of Chorus Rossini, from their home city of Modena. They left as the overall winning choir and Pavarotti went home determined to make music his career and later said that winning at Llangollen was the spark that ignited his dream.
When he came back as a global icon for a sell-out concert in 1995, he said: 'I always say that to the journalists when they ask me what is a day more memorable in my life, and I always say that it is when I won this competition because it was with all my friends.'
Nicoletta Mantovani is journeying from her home in Italy to hand over the coveted Pendine Trophy to the winner of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, the final of which is on the closing Sunday evening of the 2025 festival.
Sharing the presentation will her be Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, owners of the arts-loving Pendine Park care organisation which is once again sponsoring the award, and another megastar of the opera world, Sir Bryn Terfel.
And in another coup for the Eisteddfod, the previous evening Nicoletta will have been on the world-famous Pavilion stage to hand the Pavarotti Trophy, named in honour of her late husband, to the winners of the Choir of the World Competition alongside festival chair John Gambles.
Nicoletta Mantovani said: 'I am deeply honoured and excited to be coming to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod to make both these amazing prize presentations. That is because this festival was the beginning of everything for Luciano and to mark both these anniversaries is very important,' said Nicoletta who founded and became president of the Pavarotti Foundation following his death.
The foundation organises tribute concerts with opera stars such as Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo, hosts exhibitions reflecting Pavarotti's life and work and also arranges performances by young opera singers discovered or promoted by the Foundation. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Nicoletta said: 'Luciano had two dreams. The first was to bring opera to everyone and the second was to bring new people into the world of opera who could become the singers of the future, which both of these Eisteddfod competitions fulfil.
'Coming to Llangollen will be very emotional for me because without his first appearance there in 1955 he told me his career would not have been possible.
'He would tell me how his choir did not expect to win, how they waited for the announcement and first came the choir who were in sixth place, then fifth and so on. They were concerned but when it got to the second place and their name had still not been called they knew they had won and they cried with joy.
'In 1995 Luciano wanted to go back there to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that win and to inspire others about opera because it was such a special place.'
John Gambles, Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod said: "We are delighted to welcome Nicoletta Mantovani, the widow of the great Luciano Pavarotti, to Llangollen this summer.
'Her presence to present both the Pavarotti Trophy and the Pendine Trophy, alongside global stars like Sir Bryn Terfel and our partners at Pendine Park, will make this year's Eisteddfod a truly memorable occasion.
'Luciano's legacy has long been intertwined with Llangollen, and to honour that connection while celebrating his remarkable life and milestones is a genuine privilege for us all."
Pendine is sponsoring the International Voice of the Future via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives across Wales.
The competition will take place during the festival's closing concert on Sunday, July 13, when Sir Bryn Terfel will be performing songs from his latest album, Sea Songs, along with acclaimed folk group Fisherman's Friends.
Mario Kreft said: 'Gill and I were privileged to be on the Maes outside the pavilion watching on a big screen for Pavarotti's brilliant performance in 1995 when he even performed a couple of arias outside.
'Pendine is also celebrating a big birthday this year – our 40 th anniversary – and we're absolutely thrilled that Nicoletta Mantovani was particularly keen to present the Pendine Trophy during what I am sure will be a memorable and emotional visit for so many reasons.
'Luciano Pavarotti will always be remembered as one of the finest and most beloved tenors of all time – and it's wonderful to think that Llangollen Eisteddfod is where his remarkable journey to greatness began.
'The fact that Nicoletta Mantovani will be presenting the prizes will surely be a huge inspiration to the current crop of talented young singers who are aiming launch their own fledgling careers.
'It was lovely to learn that the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition chimes with Pavarotti's desire to encourage and foster the singing stars of the future, ensuring that his legacy lives on.
'The fact that Sir Bryn Terfel will also be there will make it all the more special because he is also living proof that supreme talent can take you a long way and we are delighted to be doing our bit to help gifted young singers attain new heights.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
11 hours ago
- Leader Live
MS says culture isn't a luxury in Wales its 'who we are'
MS for Delyn Last week in the Senedd, I spoke about the incredible contribution of North Wales to our cultural landscape – whether that's the Llangollen International Eisteddfod or the North Wales International Music Festival in St Asaph or our historic heritage at Flint Castle and Greenfield Valley. There's also the jewel in our cultural crown, Theatr Clwyd, which is nearing the end of an inspirational transformation. Culture in Wales isn't a luxury, it's who we are. It empowers, connects and drives our economy and it deserves to be supported not only by Welsh Government and other public bodies but also by our communities, the communities who inspire and attend performances and enjoy the wonderful cultural riches on offer in our corner of Wales. You can see many of my contributions in Senedd on my Facebook page at It was also lovely recently to welcome students and teachers from Point of Ayr Federation Schools to the Senedd for a visit. They certainly asked some fantastic questions and took the opportunity to raise a number of things they were concerned about with me – from the impact of acts of anti-social behaviour on their school and in their local area to what was happening with plans for a new skate park. I look forward to taking these matters up as their Member of the Senedd and updating the students through their schools. Last week was Armed Forces Week, culminating in Armed Forces Day on Saturday – a chance to pay tribute to the dedication, courage and sacrifice of those who have served and those who continue to serve in our Armed Forces. I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all those in our Armed Forces community, including veterans and reservists here in North Wales, for their continued service and commitment. We will always remember, support and stand with you. As this year's Pride month comes to a close, it's a chance to reflect on what has been a packed but powerful few weeks. From the first ever Prestatyn Pride to the excellent Flintshire Schools Pride, Pride Cymru in the capital and Commonwealth events in the Senedd, Pride remains as relevant and as important as ever – a positive force for good that brings together both the LGBTQ+ community and the wider community. It's a privilege to serve the community that shaped me here in North Wales and I'm proud to be an authentic advocate and ally for our LGBTQ+ community too. Pride is still a protest and love will always win! Regular readers of this column will know that the Welsh Government will be banning plastic in wet wipes next year – the legislation is set to come into force in December 2026 and is part of a wider, integrated approach to address the problems created by excess plastic and litter, banning all sorts of single-use and unnecessary plastics in products we all use regularly, something which I kick-started when I was Minister for Environment back in 2016. So it was heartening this week to hear that Nice-Pak in Flint, one of our biggest local employers and one which does a lot of work locally for our communities, is ready for the transition ahead of the legislation by ensuring that 96% of the wipes it manufactures for the UK market are already plastic-free. This is great news for the company and for the environment – well done to the team at Nice-Pak! Finally, a reminder that Mold Carnival is back this Sunday, July 6 – a brilliant local event that brings the whole community together at the Rec and Kendricks Field (Maes Bodlonfa Fields). The day kicks off with a colourful parade at 10:30am from Griffiths Square car park and runs until 6pm with everything from hands-on science fun and special character appearances to live music, dance acts and family entertainment throughout the day. Plus, there'll be free football activities thanks to the FAW and McDonald's as well as Transformer robots! If you're free, do pop down and support this fantastic local day out. It's a great celebration of everything that makes Mold such a special place to live. As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
RFK Jr. shares what brings Trump to tears in Tucker Carlson interview
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that the music of Luciano Pavarotti can bring President Donald Trump to tears in a wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson. The Health and Human Services Secretary was talking about his transition from being a registered Democrat to working in the Republican administration and what surprised him about working with Trump. While he qualified that Trump 'sometimes validates' the views of his enemies of being a 'bombastic narcissist,' that people are missing out on what a three-dimensional character he is. 'He cries when he hears Pavarotti,' Kennedy revealed, furthering the look into Trump's love of music by saying the opera singer moves the president. He's encyclopedic in certain areas you wouldn't expect like music and you know, he gets very emotional about music,' he added. Kennedy noted that he has also seen Trump as completely different from who he is painted as by his former party. 'Narcissists are incapable of empathy and he's one of the most empathetic people that I've met... I think he's really the uniquely right person for the country,' Kennedy said. There were still members of the Trump Cabinet that Kennedy had many profound disagreements with, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has impressed him in particular. He even described the former Florida Senator as, 'the funniest guy in the Cabinet.' 'He says things that make people belly laugh every Cabinet meeting and he's, you know, I always, I never was very, let's say approving of Marco because he was kind of a neocon warhawk,' Kennedy said. 'But now he's had this incredible transformation, and you know, I think he's very aligned with me on most issues. On Ukraine, you know, and just the fact that we should not be the policeman of the world anymore,' he added. When asked about other members of the Cabinet, he notes that his Hollywood actress wife Cheryl Hines 'loves' Attorney General Pam Bondi and that he also gets along with her. Kennedy also pitched Carlson on 'Truth Commissions' that could allow people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine to have a platform that could see Anthony Fauci prosecuted. The secretary most recently made waves during a House hearing where he said he wants to fit all Americans with a tracking device within the next four years. He said the technology could help people lose weight and exercise more regularly, as well as, 'take control of their health' and encourage 'good judgements about their diets, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives'. In an effort to get a smartwatch, ring or monitor on every American, RFK Jr said he is planning to launch 'one of the biggest' advertising campaigns in history to encourage more people to wear the devices — which range from $99 to nearly $800. The health secretary said officials were 'exploring' how the government could pay for the devices for some Americans. It is the latest proposal in his Make America Healthy Again mission and comes amid his vow to find the cause of - and solve - the rising rates of cancer, chronic disease and autism in young people. But some commentators called the move unusual for the health secretary, who has previously railed against a 'surveillance state'. RFK Jr revealed his plans to the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee yesterday, saying: 'We think that wearables are a key to the MAHA agenda, Making America Healthy Again. It's a way people can take control over their own health... they can see what food is doing to their glucose levels, their heart rates and a number of other metrics as they eat. And they can begin to make good judgements about their diet, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
RFK Jr. reveals what makes Trump cry and the 'Neocon Warhawk' Cabinet member who won him over
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that the music of Luciano Pavarotti can bring President Donald Trump to tears in a wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson. The Health and Human Services Secretary was talking about his transition from being a registered Democrat to working in the Republican administration and what surprised him about working with Trump. While he qualified that Trump 'sometimes validates' the views of his enemies of being a 'bombastic narcissist,' that people are missing out on what a three-dimensional character he is. 'He cries when he hears Pavarotti,' Kennedy revealed, furthering the look into Trump's love of music by saying the opera singer moves the president. 'He's encyclopedic in certain areas you wouldn't expect like music and you know, he gets very emotional about music,' he added. Kennedy noted that he has also seen Trump as completely different from who he is painted as by his former party. 'Narcissists are incapable of empathy and he's one of the most empathetic people that I've met... I think he's really the uniquely right person for the country,' Kennedy said. There were still members of the Trump Cabinet that Kennedy had many profound disagreements with, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has impressed him in particular. He even described the former Florida Senator as, 'the funniest guy in the Cabinet.' 'He says things that make people belly laugh every Cabinet meeting and he's, you know, I always, I never was very, let's say approving of Marco because he was kind of a neocon warhawk,' Kennedy said. 'But now he's had this incredible transformation, and you know, I think he's very aligned with me on most issues. On Ukraine, you know, and just the fact that we should not be the policeman of the world anymore,' he added. When asked about other members of the Cabinet, he notes that his Hollywood actress wife Cheryl Hines 'loves' Attorney General Pam Bondi and that he also gets along with her. Kennedy also pitched Carlson on 'Truth Commissions' that could allow people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine to have a platform that could see Anthony Fauci prosecuted. The secretary most recently made waves during a House hearing where he said he wants to fit all Americans with a tracking device within the next four years. He said the technology could help people lose weight and exercise more regularly, as well as, 'take control of their health' and encourage 'good judgements about their diets, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives'. In an effort to get a smartwatch, ring or monitor on every American, RFK Jr said he is planning to launch 'one of the biggest' advertising campaigns in history to encourage more people to wear the devices — which range from $99 to nearly $800. The health secretary said officials were 'exploring' how the government could pay for the devices for some Americans. It is the latest proposal in his Make America Healthy Again mission and comes amid his vow to find the cause of - and solve - the rising rates of cancer, chronic disease and autism in young people. But some commentators called the move unusual for the health secretary, who has previously railed against a 'surveillance state'. RFK Jr revealed his plans to the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee yesterday, saying: 'We think that wearables are a key to the MAHA agenda, Making America Healthy Again. 'It's a way people can take control over their own health... they can see what food is doing to their glucose levels, their heart rates and a number of other metrics as they eat. 'And they can begin to make good judgements about their diet, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives.' Asked about whether the federal government might fund the devices, he added: 'You know the Ozempic is costing $1,300 a month. 'If you can achieve the same thing with an $80 wearable, it's a lot better for the American people.
