The Three Tenors Tandem of three great tenors: Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti Date of Birth: 01.01.1990

1. The Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti
2. The Purpose: Fundraising for Jose Carreras' Leukemia Treatment
3. The First Concert: A Remarkable Success
4. The Conductor: Zubin Mehta
5. Subsequent Concerts and Charitable Contributions

The Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti

The idea of organizing a project in which the three greatest tenors of the 20th century would perform together on one stage belongs to Italian impresario Mario Dradi. After the extraordinary success of the concert, many tried to claim credit for the idea, leading to ongoing debates about who truly proposed such a concept. Mario Dradi recalls the origins of the project, stating, "It all started as a joke when, after Jose Carreras' concert in June 1989 in Chinchiano, we were discussing future projects, and Jose jokingly suggested organizing such a concert. And I began working on this idea."

The Purpose: Fundraising for Jose Carreras' Leukemia Treatment

The Three Tenors, as they came to be known, united with the goal of raising $400,000 for the operation of their friend and colleague Jose Carreras, who was diagnosed with acute leukemia in 1987. Carreras was hospitalized after a routine dental check-up, and his severe illness interrupted his career for a whole year. In 1988, he established a foundation to fight against leukemia. Despite his efforts, Carreras was unable to fully overcome the disease, and an expensive operation was required for his survival. Concerned about Carreras' condition, his friends were eager to help, leading to discussions about the possibility of a joint concert.

The First Concert: A Remarkable Success

On December 5, 1989, Mario Dradi faced serious problems in organizing the concert, and many believed that the endeavor would fail. However, despite the difficulties, the tenors gathered in Rome for their first rehearsal, which marked the beginning of their success. During this rehearsal, they worked on selecting the repertoire for the concert. It was decided that each of the tenors would have the majority of the program to showcase their individual talents, singing several arias and songs. They would then come together as a trio to perform a medley of arias. The choice of repertoire was based on the singers' individual repertoires, ensuring that all arias were within each of their capabilities.

The Conductor: Zubin Mehta

Zubin Mehta first learned that he would be conducting the concert of the three tenors while on tour in Hong Kong, after reading an article in the newspaper. Initially, he dismissed the idea as a fabrication of the press, stating, "I put the newspaper aside, thinking it was just another invention of the press. I simply could not believe it." Although he referred to the project as an "unrealizable dream," the famous conductor found himself leading the historic concert on July 7, 1990. This charitable concert became the greatest musical event that shook the world.

Subsequent Concerts and Charitable Contributions

The concert at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, held on the eve of the World Cup, featured Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and Jose Carreras. Two orchestras, the Florence Orchestra and the Rome Opera Orchestra, were conducted by Zubin Mehta. Apart from the sum required for Jose Carreras' treatment and producer fees, the proceeds from this concert went to the leukemia foundation. The event was a tremendous success, thanks in large part to Luciano Pavarotti's active role and inspiration.

Following this groundbreaking concert, The Three Tenors performed at subsequent World Cup tournaments, including Los Angeles in 1994, Paris in 1998, and Yokohama in 2002. These concerts were equally successful, and over the course of 11 years, The Three Tenors gave a total of 35 performances.