A sad day for opera fans all over the world...

Luciano Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him the most beloved and celebrated tenor since Caruso and one of the few opera singers to win crossover fame as a popular superstar, died Thursday. He was 71.

His manager, Terri Robson, told the AP in an e-mailed statement that Pavarotti died at his home in Modena, Italy, at 5 a.m. local time. Pavarotti had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and underwent further treatment in August.

My favorite tenor singing my favorite aria from my favorite opera:

I've been listening to Glenn Gould's 1955 recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations quite a bit lately. As with most Gould recordings, if you listen closely you can hear him humming along while he plays. I find this infinitely interesting to listen to, but there are many who simply find it annoying.

Anyway, I stumbled across this mock ad for "The Glenn Gould De-Vocalizer 2000" and laughed my ass off.