When Pl\u00e1cido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jos\u00e9 Carreras took to the stage together before the 1990 World Cup Final, they changed the course of classical music – and, arguably, football too <\/p>
The soundtrack of everyone\u2019s life in summer 1990 was Luciano Pavarotti<\/a> singing Puccini\u2019s \u2018Nessun\u2019 dorma\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n And, probably, the Three Tenors concert on 7 July, the eve of the World Cup final of Italia 90: a light-hearted showcase of him, Pl\u00e1cido Domingo<\/strong><\/a> and Jos\u00e9 Carreras beautifully performing the great and the good of the tenor repertoire, individually and together.<\/p>\n The m\u00e9nage <\/em>\u00e0<\/em> trois<\/em> proved a huge, unexpected success. It spawned the biggest-selling classical album ever, and multi-million pound tours. It shook up classical marketing. Crossover albums, Vanessa-Mae, Sarah Brightman, Russell Watson, \u2018stadium tenors\u2019, \u2018popera\u2019\u2026 it\u2019s The Three Tenors you should thank. Or blame.<\/p>\n But despite subsequent accusations of selling-out, tax fraud, and inappropriate gum-chewing, The Three Tenors phenomenon remains how it felt that starry night at Rome\u2019s Baths of Caracalla: a glorious celebration of high art and popular song, astounding vocal technique, and a dash of amiable larking about.<\/p>\nWho were The Three Tenors?<\/h2>\n