I found out around two o'clock in the morning that Pavarotti had died, and immediately set to work putting together my modest tribute to the man — more of a personal tribute for how his career touched my life than anything else.

My blog post can be found here, but the heart of it I'll reproduce below:

"Opera may be an acquired taste in this day and age, but Pavarotti’s contribution to spreading a love for it surpassed anyone of his generation. To enjoy opera is to have your heart opened to the beauty of this world, and of this life. And for a depth of feeling and appreciation of beauty that I might not have otherwise, I have to thank that man."