Translated by Cara Steenstra

News released by Government Information Office

Release date: 2005-12-12

Having been cordially invited by the Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu, the "King of the High C", the great tenor Pavarotti will hold his farewell concert on December 14, 8pm, at the Taichung Stadium. The Taichung City Government has invited all music fans of Taiwan to come to Taichung to witness this performance of a lifetime.

During the arrival press conference on December 12, Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu expressed that it took four years but he is very honored to finally be able to invite Pavarotti to hold a concert in Taichung. He also hopes that Pavarotti will come to Taiwan more often, so that we can all enjoy his music. Mayor Hu also joked that if he had not been re-elected this time, he would have had to hold his "farewell" ceremony with Pavarotti. Fortunately, he was re-elected, so he does not have to bid farewell, and he sincerely hopes that Pavarotti will not have to bid farewell to us either.

When asked by the media as to why he chose to retire now, Pavarotti expressed that he has often been asked this question during his world concert tour, and he often wondered if he has made the correct decision. However, he believes that this is the right choice, since he has been in the entertainment business for 45 years, he believes that it is enough, and when he retires, he would like to spend more time with his lovely daughter and enjoy a quiet life in his hometown.

At the arrival press conference, Mayor Hu presented Pavarotti with a wooden sculpture of Darmo that he had been treasuring for more than a decade. Mayor Hu explained to Pavarotti the historical background of the Darmo sculpture. Mayor Hu also said that Pavarotti resembles Darmo. Also, the pronunciation of "Darmo" sounds like "amour" which means love in French, symbolizing the fact that he was presenting Pavarotti with a beloved gift.