I loved Pavarotti since I was a little kid. When I was much younger I only liked certain tenors and didn't like female voices, duets or chorals, but then I didn't know better. An important thing that people should realize about opera is that it's not only the voice and singing that makes a great tenor but his acting as well. Let's not forget that opera is essentially a theatrical play with classical music and singing. Other than an amazing voice, Pavarotti was a great actor, not the best but a good one.
Here is his performance of "
Vesti La Giubba" from Leoncavallo's opera
I Pagliacci. Cannio (Pavarotti) is a part of a theatrical troupe and plays Pagliaccio, a man who has been betrayed by his wife Colombina and is suffering of jealousy and pain. Unfortunately, Cannio has just discovered that the same thing has happened in real life and must keep the pain and rage inside him and continue with the show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky271W94VHA
Lyrics for those interested:
Original Italian
Recitar! Mentre preso dal delirio,
non so più quel che dico,
e quel che faccio!
Eppur è d'uopo, sforzati!
Bah! sei tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba,
e la faccia in farina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto;
in una smorfia il singhiozzo il dolor, Ah!
Ridi, Pagliaccio,
sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!
English Translation
To recite! While taken with delirium,
I no longer know what I say,
or that which I do!
And yet you must, force yourself!
Bah! Are you not a man?
You are a clown!
Put on your costume,
and powder your face.
The people pay, and laugh when they please.
And if Harlequin steals from you Colombina,
laugh, Pagliaccio, and everyone will applaud!
Change into laughs the spasms of pain;
into a grimace the tears of pain, Ah!
Laugh, Pagliaccio,
for your love is broken!
Laugh of the pain, that poisons your heart! 
Plus, his music in general was just amazing. I'm not a huge classical music fan, couldn't tell you the difference between Bach and Beethoven, but I could listen to it for hours, and the man had a special voice indeed. RIP.
