Pavarotti Beats A Chorus Poem by gershon hepner

Pavarotti beats a chorus.
Lots of voices tend to bore us,
but one, ringing true and loud,
reaching top C and low browed,
trumps a lot of chorused voices
that offer them so many choices
they cannot concentrate on any.
One clear voice can drown out many,
yet harmony is so delightful,
wise men prefer it to a frightful
voice that, although loud and true,
does not give choruses their due.
Only if you’re Pavarotti
Are you entitled to be snotty.


Sam Donaldson, lamenting the death of Tim Russert, said on ABC this morning: “Pavarotti beats a chorus.” I should add that after going to a stellar performance of “Tosca” at the LA Opera I checked out E lucevan le stele on You-Tube and found that Placido Domingo’s version was clearly superior to Pavarotti. He sang it in context, as if the aria were part of a choral structure rather thana voice in the wilderness, oblivious of the rest of mankind.

6/15/08