The Three Tenors

{{Short description|Operatic singing group (1990–2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

'''The Three Tenors''' were an operatic singing trio, active between 1990 and 2003, and termed a supergroup (a title normally reserved for popular music genre groups)<ref>{{cite book |title=Americano Annual 2000| editor-first=Alexander Hopkins |editor-last=McDannald| publisher = Grolier |isbn=978-0-7172-0231-7|date= 2000| page= 201}} </ref> consisting of Italian Luciano Pavarotti and Spaniards Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. The trio began their collaboration with a performance at the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy, on 7 July 1990, the eve of the 1990 FIFA World Cup final, watched by a global television audience of around 800 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.classicfm.com/artists/luciano-pavarotti/music/original-three-tenors-concert/ |work=Classic FM |title=The Original Three Tenors in Concert}}</ref> The image of three tenors in formal evening dress singing in a World Cup concert captivated the global audience.<ref name="FIFA">{{cite book |title=The Music Industry Handbook |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |page=219}}</ref> The recording of this debut concert became the best-selling classical album of all time<ref name="Malone2011" /> and led to additional performances and live albums. They performed to a global television audience at three further World Cup Finals: 1994 in Los Angeles, 1998 in Paris, and 2002 in Yokohama.<ref name="FIFA"/> They also toured other cities around the world, usually performing in stadiums or similar large arenas to huge audiences.<ref name="Hynd2009">{{cite book|first=Noel|last=Hynd|title=The Prodigy: Author's Revised Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VgCHnBxu-AEC&pg=PA244|access-date=30 July 2013|date=2009|publisher=Damnation Books|isbn=978-1-61572-022-4|pages=244–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Orient-express Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kBbxAAAAMAAJ|access-date=30 July 2013|year=1996|publisher=Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Limited|page=32|quote=The Three Tenors' tour begins on June 29 at the Kasumigaoka National Stadium in Tokyo, then on July 6, it is Wembley Stadium in London, scene of Pavarotti's solo triumph a decade ago. Vienna Prater Stadium follows on July 1 3, the New ...}}</ref> They last performed together at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, on 28 September 2003.

The Three Tenors repertoire ranged from opera to Broadway to Neapolitan songs and pop hits. The group's signature songs included "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's opera ''Turandot'', usually sung by Pavarotti, and the song "'O sole mio", which all three tenors typically sang together.<ref name="Fox2002">{{cite book|first=Dan|last=Fox|title=Mandolin Gold: 100+ of the Most Popular Selections Arranged for Mandolin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TBvz5b-4cnAC&pg=PA40|access-date=30 July 2013|date=2002|publisher=Alfred Music Publishing|isbn=978-1-4574-1716-0|pages=40–|quote=No, the name of this piece is not "O Solo Mio."The correct title means "Oh, my sun." The Three Tenors always got ecstatic cheers when they sang this famous Italian song, and as "It's Now Or Never", the song was a hit for Elvis ...}}</ref>

==History== thumb|left|Luciano Pavarotti {{quote box|align=right|width=25%|quote=Luciano is a born communicator, one of the most charismatic figures I have ever seen on stage. He only opens his mouth and with the first note, he gets the audience. It is something he was born with. Placido is the most complete artist I have ever seen on stage. There is the quality of his acting besides his great vocal skills and achievement. For me – a tenor lover – it is a great honor and privilege to sing with them. They are two great guys and very high humans.<ref name=ChiTri>{{cite news|last1=Lavin|first1=Cheryl|title=Three Tenors And Grazie, Grazie, Grazie|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/12/10/three-tenors-and-grazie-grazie-grazie/|access-date=1 August 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=10 December 2000}}</ref>|source=—José Carreras on his Three Tenor colleagues in a December 2000 interview}}

Italian producer Mario Dradi, along with German producer Elmar Kruse and British composer and producer Herbert Chappell,<ref>[https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C3293461 The 3 Tenors - The Birth of a Legend]</ref> conceived the idea of the first concert in 1990 in Rome. It was held to raise money for Carreras's foundation, the ''José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation''. It was also a way for his friends Domingo and Pavarotti to welcome Carreras back into the world of opera after undergoing successful treatment for leukemia.<ref name="Żurawicki2010">{{cite book|first=Leon|last=Żurawicki|title=Neuromarketing: Exploring the Brain of the Consumer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gy45SfmuxK4C&pg=PA209|access-date=30 July 2013|year=2010|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-540-77829-5|pages=209–|quote=Such was the case of the Three Tenors. When Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo thought of welcoming their leukemia surviving friend and operatic rival – José Carreras – they came up with the idea of a huge ...}}</ref> The Three Tenors first performed in a concert for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the orchestra of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.<ref name="Knight2006">{{cite book|first=David B.|last=Knight|title=Landscapes in Music: Space, Place, And Time in the World's Great Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yP_0nxswIVgC&pg=PA193|access-date=30 July 2013|year=2006|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-7425-4116-0|pages=193–|quote=Luciano Pavorotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras or, as they are popularly called, the "Three Tenors", attracted worldwide attention during the 1990 World Cup when six thousand people filled the Roman Baths of Caracalla ...}}</ref> The performance captivated the global audience.<ref name="FIFA"/><ref>{{cite news |title=A riot of colour, emotion and memories: the World Cup stands alone in the field of sport|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/world-cup-russia-2018-preview-lionel-messi-ronaldo-italia-90-98-england-brazil-germany-france-a8392211.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/world-cup-russia-2018-preview-lionel-messi-ronaldo-italia-90-98-england-brazil-germany-france-a8392211.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=20 August 2018|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> A filmed version of the concert was produced by Herbert Chappell and Gian Carlo Bertelli for Decca and became the highest-selling classical disc in history.<ref name=Blumenthal>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/arts/the-three-tenors-juggernaut.html | title=The Three Tenors Juggernaut |newspaper=The New York Times| first=Ralph|last=Blumenthal|author-link=Ralph Blumenthal| date=1996-03-24 | access-date=2021-02-05}}</ref>

The three subsequently sang together in concerts produced by Hungarian Tibor Rudas and other producers, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to coincide the final match of the 1994 FIFA World Cup,<ref name="Communications2000">{{cite journal|author=Emmis Communications|title=Orange Coast Magazine|journal=Orange Coast|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46|access-date=30 July 2013|date=2000|publisher=Emmis Communications|pages=46–|issn=0279-0483}}</ref> at the Champ de Mars under the Eiffel Tower during the 1998 FIFA World Cup,<ref name="DaunceyHare1999">{{cite book|author1=Hugh Dauncey|author2=Geoff Hare|title=France and the 1998 World Cup: The National Impact of a World Sporting Event|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhdUvaJCIGUC&pg=PA194|access-date=30 July 2013|year=1999|publisher=Frank Cass|isbn=978-0-7146-4887-3|pages=194–|quote=Accompanied by the Orchestre de Paris, Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti were heard by an estimated 150,000 ... music, synthetic image and laser concert on the Champs-de- Mars in front of a rather bigger audience than the three tenors had ...}}</ref> and in Yokohama for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="Bee2007">{{cite book|author=Peter Wynter Bee|title=People of the Day 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9X0p9kjEN8C&pg=PT47|access-date=30 July 2013|date=2007|publisher=People of the Day Limited|isbn=978-0-9548110-1-3|pages=47–}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Three Tenors in Traditional World Cup Performance|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-28-et-tenors28-story.html|access-date=3 October 2024|date=28 June 2002|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Nearly 50,000 people attended their 1994 concert at Dodger Stadium and around 1.3 billion viewers worldwide watched it.<ref name=Blumenthal />

Following the big success of the 1990 and 1994 concerts, The Three Tenors opened a world tour of concerts during 1996–1997.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tim Smith|title=3 Tenors Ticket Sales Not Bringing Down The House|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-02-15/news/9702150103_1_tenors-ticket-prices-world-tour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020232128/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-02-15/news/9702150103_1_tenors-ticket-prices-world-tour|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|date=February 1997|newspaper=Sun Sentinel|location=Florida}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Sue Leeman|title=Three Tenors return, Five-city tour includes stop in U.S.|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19951012&id=D-oyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6578,1937665|access-date=26 August 2013|date=October 1995|newspaper=The Free Lance–Star}}</ref><ref name=Blumenthal /> In 1996 they performed at Kasumigaoka Stadium in Tokyo, at Wembley Stadium in London, at Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna, at Giants Stadium outside of New York City, at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, at Olympic Stadium in Munich, at Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf and at BC Place in Vancouver on New Year's Eve.<ref>{{cite news|author=Melinda bargreen|title=Tenors of the Times – New Year's Eve Show in Vancouver Is More an Event than a Concert|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961227/2367226/tenors-of-the-times----new-years-eve-show-in-vancouver-is-more-an-event-than-a-concert|access-date=26 August 2013|date=1996|newspaper=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In 1997 concerts followed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, at Skydome in Toronto, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami and at Camp Nou in Barcelona. The tour was scheduled to end in Houston with a final concert which was eventually canceled due to very low ticket sales.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three Tenors, video artist and Vienna in the news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961227/2367226/tenors-of-the-times|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130826112639/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961227&slug=2367226|url-status=live|archive-date=26 August 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|date=December 1996|newspaper=Desert News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Astrodome owners are suing Three Tenors promoters|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19971223&id=RkFUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5834,2034206|access-date=26 August 2013|date=23 December 1997|newspaper=Boca Raton News|page=16}}</ref> In addition to their 1996–1997 world tour, The Three Tenors also performed two benefit concerts – one in Pavarotti's hometown Modena in the summer of 1997 and one in Domingo's home town Madrid in the following winter – in order to raise money for the rebuilding of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and for the Queen Sofia Foundation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three Tenors to Perform Benefit Concert for King Juan Carlos' 60th Birthday|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/three-tenors-to-perform-benefit-concert-for-king-juan-carlos-60th-birthday-156672215.html|access-date=17 September 2013|date=December 1997|publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref>

A second series of concerts outside of the FIFA World cup events held again in 1999 including cities like Tokyo, Pretoria and Detroit<ref>{{cite news|title=Ford Motor Company Brings Three Tenors to Detroit in July|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ford-motor-company-brings-three-tenors-to-detroit-in-july-73372177.html|access-date=26 August 2013|date=January 1999|publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How sweet the sound of three tenors|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1999/07/18/how-sweet-the-sound-of-three-tenors-for-the-record/|access-date=26 August 2013|date=July 1999|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> followed by a Christmas concert in Vienna in December the same year. In 2000 the Three Tenors toured again performing live in San Jose, California, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Cleveland and São Paulo. However, the production had to cancel two planned concerts for this tour; one in Hamburg on 16 June due to difficulties in finding a suitable orchestra and conductor, and another one in Albany, New York, on 22 July due to poor ticket sales. The later one was replaced by the Brazilian concert in São Paulo.<ref>{{cite web|author=Natasha Emmons|title=Three Tenors on the Road Again; Trio To Make. Live Webcast Debut. (brief article)|url=http://business.highbeam.com/53/article-1G1-62053423/three-tenors-road-again-trio-make-live-webcast-debut|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309181910/https://business.highbeam.com/53/article-1G1-62053423/three-tenors-road-again-trio-make-live-webcast-debut|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2016|access-date=28 August 2013|date=17 April 2000|publisher=Amusement Business}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Three Tenors concert in Hamburg has been canceled |url=http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=497704|access-date=3 August 2015|date=5 July 2000|magazine=Pollstar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Three Tenors to Perform South American Concert Debut. Brazilian show replaces Albany, N.Y., date that was canceled because of poor ticket sales|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1121483/three-tenors-brazilian-style.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130826112620/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1121483/three-tenors-brazilian-style.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|date=June 2000|website=MTV News}}</ref> One more benefit concert was given by The Three Tenors in December 2000 in Chicago to donate the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mattalia Glendy|title= Three Tenors Concert on Cold Night Helps Aids Foundation|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/12/21/encore-4/|access-date=28 August 2013|date=21 December 2000|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> In 2001 two more concerts were given in Asia: one in Seoul and one in Beijing inside the walls of the Forbidden City.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Three Tenors in Seoul|url=http://www.meyersound.com/news/2001/three_tenors_asia|access-date=26 August 2013|date=June 2001|publisher=Meyer Sound|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104031928/http://www.meyersound.com/news/2001/three_tenors_asia/|archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> Finally in 2003 they performed in Bath at the Royal Crescent<ref>{{cite web|title=Three Tenors take Bath|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/08/06/bath.tenors/|access-date=26 August 2013|date=August 2003|publisher=CNN}}</ref> and later in September the same year they gave their last Three Tenors' concert, which took place at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three Tenors, Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo postpone show|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=20021205&id=m3AxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4411,3392835|access-date=16 January 2014|date=5 December 2002|newspaper=Ocala StarBanner|page=17}}</ref> A Three Tenors reunion concert was scheduled to take place on 4 June 2005 at the Parque Fundidora in Monterrey, Mexico, but because of Pavarotti's health problems, he was replaced by Mexican pop singer Alejandro Fernández.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tim Page|title=Domingo Sees Little Chance for a Three Tenors Reunion|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/05/AR2005120501675.html|access-date=16 January 2014|date=December 2005|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> thumb|Plácido Domingo

== Recordings == The concerts were a huge commercial success,<ref>{{cite book|author1=Al Lieberman|author2=Patricia Esgate|title=The Entertainment Marketing Revolution: Bringing the Moguls, the Media, and the Magic to the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ROXOZCJa1kC&pg=PT213|access-date=30 July 2013|year=2002|publisher=FT Press|isbn=978-0-13-029350-3|pages=213–|quote=On occasion, each of the three would accompany a popular singing star on a CD, such as the collaboration of John Denver and Plácido Domingo. But these ... in front of a world-class orchestra led by a star conductor like James Levine or Zubin Mehta that "The Three Tenors" were born. ... Performances in Athens, Paris, and New York resulted in platinum CD sales, gold VHS sales, licensing fees for HBO ...}}</ref> and were accompanied by a series of best-selling recordings, including the original ''Carreras-Domingo-Pavarotti in Concert'', subsequently reissued as ''The Three Tenors In Concert'' (which holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling classical music album),<ref name="Malone2011">{{cite book|first=Gareth|last=Malone|title=Music for the People: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Classical Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oydQ714j4w0C&pg=PA34|access-date=30 July 2013|date=2011|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=978-0-00-739618-4|pages=34–|quote=The association with football must have helped it, but achieving a Guinness world record for best-selling classical music with the Three Tenors in Concert CD shows that a great tune, well sung, has mass appeal even if it is classical. }}</ref> ''The Three Tenors in Concert 1994'', ''The Three Tenors: Paris 1998'', ''The Three Tenors Christmas'' and ''The Best of The Three Tenors''. (A DVD of ''The Three Tenors in Bath'' was issued solely as a corporate gift.) Zubin Mehta conducted the performances in 1990 and 1994. The Paris concert was conducted by James Levine.<ref name="Betts2005">{{cite book|author=Graham Betts|title=Complete UK Hit Albums 1956-2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewdCAQAAIAAJ|access-date=30 July 2013|date=2005|publisher=HarperCollins UK|isbn=978-0-00-720532-5|page=121}}</ref>

Carreras and Domingo have appeared together on a number of other albums including ''Gala Lirica'' (with various other artists),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gala-Lirica/dp/B000003F9L |work=Amazon |title=Gala Lirica}}</ref> ''Christmas In Vienna'' (with Diana Ross),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Vienna-Carreras-Pl%C3%A1cido-Domingo/dp/B0000028YU |work=Amazon |title=Christmas In Vienna}}</ref> and ''Christmas in Moscow'' (with Sissel Kyrkjebø).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Moscow-Jose-Carreras/dp/B000W353CK |work=Amazon |title=Christmas In Moscow|year=2007 }}</ref>

==Royalties== For their initial appearance together in Rome in 1990, Carreras, Domingo, and Pavarotti agreed to accept relatively small flat fees for the recording rights to their concert, which they then donated to charity. Their album unexpectedly reaped millions in profits for Decca Records, causing some resentment on the part of the tenors, who officially received no royalty payments. As reported in the press, Domingo suspected that the record company paid Pavarotti on the side, in order to keep one of their top contracted artists content.<ref name=Blumenthal /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Breslin|first1=Herbert|author-link=Herbert Breslin|title=The King & I|date=2004|publisher=Doubleday|isbn=0-385-50972-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/kingi000herb/page/216 216–18]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/kingi000herb/page/216|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Pavarotti denied this, insisting: "We got nothing."<ref name=Blumenthal /> Years later his former agent and manager Herbert Breslin wrote that Pavarotti had indeed secretly received $1.5 million that the other two tenors, who were not under contract to Decca, did not receive.{{sfn|Breslin|2004|p=218}} For subsequent concerts and recordings, the singers were much more careful in assuring financially advantageous contractual terms for themselves.{{sfn|Breslin|2004|pp=218–222}}

==Criticism== thumb|left|José Carreras While the Three Tenors were applauded by many for introducing opera to a wider audience, some opera purists criticised the group. Domingo responded to critics in a 1998 interview: "The purists, they say this is not opera. Of course it's not opera, it doesn't pretend to be an opera. It's a concert in which we sing some opera, we sing some songs, we do some zarzuela, then we do a medley of songs{{nbsp}}... We respect very much when people criticise it. That's fine. They shouldn't come{{nbsp}}... But they should leave the people who are coming and are happy."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sweeting |first1=Adam |title=A crisp tenor |url=http://www.tenorissimo.com/domingo/Articles/tg081498.htm |access-date=1 August 2015 |work=The Guardian |date=14 August 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110031931/http://www.tenorissimo.com/domingo/Articles/tg081498.htm |archive-date=10 November 2005 }}</ref>

Other critics such as Martin Bernheimer complained that the tenors performed for excessive financial remuneration, rather than art.<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=David|title=A look back at the Three Tenors concert at Dodger Stadium|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-three-tenors-dodger-stadium-20140714-story.html|access-date=1 August 2015|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=16 July 2014|quote=One of the most popular and lucrative franchises in classical-music history, the Three Tenors was a cultural phenomenon, inspiring adoration among fans and disdain from music purists who regarded the enterprise as a shameless money grab... In the article, [music critic Martin Bernheimer] criticized the promotional hype surrounding the event and accused the tenors of trivializing their art form.}}</ref> On their first worldwide tour, each tenor received around one million dollars per concert – unheard of for classical musicians.<ref name=Blumenthal /> In a joint interview with his colleagues, Pavarotti responded to complaints about their incomes: "We make the money we deserve. We're not forcing someone to pay us." Domingo added about the world of opera: "I am giving 17 performances in 25 days. Ask me how much I get for that{{nbsp}}... For 30 years we have given in blood the best of our lives and our careers. You think we don't deserve money?" Carreras, for his part, stressed how little they made compared to many athletes, pop singers, and movie stars.<ref name=ChiTri />

==Legal issues== The success of the Three Tenors led to antitrust action by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission against Warner Bros. and Vivendi Universal. It found that they had conspired not to advertise or discount the albums of the Rome concert (released by PolyGram, later taken over by Vivendi) and of the Los Angeles concert (released by Warner Bros.) in order to protect sales of the jointly released album of the 1998 Paris concert.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-29-fi-tenors29-story.html |title=Price-Fixing Charges Upheld|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=29 July 2003}}</ref>

The Three Tenors also encountered trouble with the German government. In 1999, two of the three singers paid an undisclosed fine to the German government as part of an out-of-court settlement for tax evasion.<ref>{{cite news |author=Alan Riding|date=1 September 1999 |title=2 of 3 Tenors Pay to Settle Tax Dispute In Germany|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In addition, the German government accused the tenors of owing large back-taxes. Their concert organizer and promoter, Matthias Hoffmann, who was in charge of their taxes at the time, was sentenced to jail time for his role in the alleged tax evasion.{{sfn|Breslin|2004|pp=224–225}}

==In popular culture== * Throughout the ''Seinfeld'' episode "The Doll", José Carreras is repeatedly referred to as "the other guy", while the names of Domingo and Pavarotti are easily recalled.<ref>{{cite web |work=SeinfeldScripts.com |title=The Doll |url=https://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheDoll.htm}}</ref> * The ''Animaniacs'' episode "Three Tenors and You're Out" featured a parody of the trio performing at Dodger Stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://play.google.com/store/tv/show?id=8wkku3YsLzU&cdid=tvseason-Qcq9H03qe8hh5UwnytV4QA&gdid=tvepisode-O70I-rUniXw |work=Google Play Movies |title=Steven Spielberg Presents: Animaniacs, Seasons 1–4, Episode 71}}</ref> * The Canadian sketch comedy series ''Royal Canadian Air Farce'' parodied The Three Tenors in a sketch.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=TV.com |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/royal-canadian-air-farce/episode-2-04-108674/ |title=Royal Canadian Air Farce Season 2 Episode 4}}</ref> * In ''Encore! Encore!'', Nathan Lane plays an opera singer who was to become "the Fourth Tenor" before injuring his voice.<ref>{{cite news |first=Caryn |last=James|author-link=Caryn James|title=One Family's Regal Airs, Another's Upward Mobility |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/22/arts/television-review-new-season-one-family-s-regal-airs-another-s-upward-mobility.html?mcubz=0 |newspaper=The New York Times|date=1998-09-22 |access-date=2017-09-18}}</ref> * The trio was featured on the MTV animated show ''Celebrity Deathmatch'', in a match against The Three Stooges.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VY_j1vzWnasC&pg=PA245 |page=245 |title=The Three Stooges Scrapbook |publisher=Chicago Review Press |year=2012 |author1=Jeff Lenburg |author2=Joan Howard Maurer |author3=Greg Lenburg|isbn=9781613740859 }}</ref> * In the Japanese version of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, The Three Emperors of Yliaster are named after the Three Tenors.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

==List of concerts== {{unsourced section|date=July 2022}} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+List of The Three Tenors concerts ! scope="col" | Nr. ! scope="col" | City, Country ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" | Event ! scope="col" | Conductor ! scope="col" | Date |- | 1 ! scope="row" | Rome, Italy | style="text-align:left;"| Baths of Caracalla | style="text-align:center;"| 1990 FIFA World Cup | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Zubin Mehta | style="text-align:right;" | 7 July 1990 |- | 2 ! scope="row" | Monte Carlo, Monaco | style="text-align:left;"| Opéra de Monte-Carlo | style="text-align:center;"| Benefit concert | style="text-align:right;"| 9 June 1994 |- | 3 ! scope="row" | Los Angeles, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Dodger Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| 1994 FIFA World Cup | style="text-align:right;" |16 July 1994 |- | 4 ! scope="row" | Tokyo, Japan | style="text-align:left;"| National Stadium | rowspan="11" style="text-align:center;" | World Tour | rowspan="9" style="text-align:center;" | James Levine | style="text-align:right;"| 29 June 1996 |- | 5 ! scope="row" | London, United Kingdom | style="text-align:left;"| Wembley Stadium | style="text-align:right;" |6 July 1996 |- | 6 ! scope="row" | Vienna, Austria | style="text-align:left;"| Ernst Happel Stadion | style="text-align:right;" |13 July 1996 |- | 7 ! scope="row" | East Rutherford, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Giants Stadium | style="text-align:right;" |20 July 1996 |- | 8 ! scope="row" | Gothenburg, Sweden | style="text-align:left;"| Ullevi Stadium | style="text-align:right;" |26 July 1996 |- | 9 ! scope="row" | Munich, Germany | style="text-align:left;"| Olympiastadion | style="text-align:right;" |3 August 1996 |- | 10 ! scope="row" | Düsseldorf, Germany | style="text-align:left;"| Rheinstadion | style="text-align:right;" |24 August 1996 |- | 11 ! scope="row" | Vancouver, Canada | style="text-align:left;"| BC Place | style="text-align:right;" |31 December 1996 |- | 12 ! scope="row" | Toronto, Canada | style="text-align:left;"| SkyDome | style="text-align:right;" |4 January 1997 |- | 13 ! scope="row" | Melbourne, Australia | style="text-align:left;"| Melbourne Cricket Ground | style="text-align:center;" |Marco Armiliato | style="text-align:right;" |1 March 1997 |- | 14 ! scope="row" | Miami, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Pro Player Stadium | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| James Levine | style="text-align:right;" |8 March 1997 |- | 15 ! scope="row" | Modena, Italy | style="text-align:left;"| Stadio Alberto Braglia | style="text-align:center;"| Benefit concert | style="text-align:right;" |17 June 1997 |- | 16 ! scope="row" | Barcelona, Spain | style="text-align:left;"| Camp Nou | style="text-align:center;"| World Tour | style="text-align:right;" |13 July 1997 |- | 17 ! scope="row" | Madrid, Spain | style="text-align:left;"| Teatro Real | style="text-align:center;"| Benefit concert | style="text-align:center;"| Marco Armiliato | style="text-align:right;"| 8 January 1998 |- | 18 ! scope="row" | Paris, France | style="text-align:left;"| Champ de Mars | style="text-align:center;"| 1998 FIFA World Cup | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| James Levine | style="text-align:right;"| 10 July 1998 |- | 19 ! scope="row" | Tokyo, Japan | style="text-align:left;"| Tokyo Dome | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| World Tour | style="text-align:right;" |9 January 1999 |- | 20 ! scope="row" | Pretoria, South Africa | style="text-align:left;"| Union Buildings | style="text-align:center;"| Marco Armiliato | style="text-align:right;"| 18 April 1999 |- | 21 ! scope="row" | Detroit, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Tiger Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| James Levine | style="text-align:right;"| 17 July 1999 |- | 22 ! scope="row" | Vienna, Austria | style="text-align:left;"| Konzerthaus | style="text-align:center;"| Christmas concert | style="text-align:center;"| Steven Mercurio | style="text-align:right;"| 23 December 1999 |- | 23 ! scope="row" | San Jose, United States | style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Arena | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| World Tour | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Marco Armiliato | style="text-align:right;"| 29 December 1999 |- | 24 ! scope="row" | Las Vegas, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Mandalay Bay Events Center | style="text-align:right;" |22 April 2000 |- | 25 ! scope="row" | Washington, D.C., United States | style="text-align:left;"| MCI Center | style="text-align:center;"| James Levine | style="text-align:right;" |7 May 2000 |- | 26 ! scope="row" | Cleveland, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Browns Stadium | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Marco Armiliato | style="text-align:right;" |25 June 2000 |- | 27 ! scope="row" | São Paulo, Brazil | style="text-align:left;"| Estádio do Morumbi | style="text-align:right;" |22 July 2000 |- | 28 ! scope="row" | Chicago, United States | style="text-align:left;"| United Center | style="text-align:center;"| Benefit concert | rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;"| János Ács | style="text-align:right;"| 17 December 2000 |- | 29 ! scope="row" | Seoul, Korea | style="text-align:left;"| Jamsil Olympic Stadium | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| World Tour | style="text-align:right;" |22 June 2001 |- | 30 ! scope="row" | Beijing, China | style="text-align:left;"| Forbidden City | style="text-align:right;" |23 June 2001 |- | 31 ! scope="row" | Yokohama, Japan | style="text-align:left;"| Yokohama Arena | style="text-align:center;"| 2002 FIFA World Cup | style="text-align:right;" |27 June 2002 |- | 32 ! scope="row" | Saint Paul, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Xcel Energy Center | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| World Tour | style="text-align:right;" |16 December 2002 |- | 33 ! scope="row" | Bath, United Kingdom | style="text-align:left;"| Royal Crescent | style="text-align:right;" |7 August 2003 |- | 34 ! scope="row" | Columbus, United States | style="text-align:left;"| Schottenstein Center | style="text-align:right;" |28 September 2003 |}

==Discography==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%;" style="margin:auto; margin:auto;" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album details ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Conductor, Ensemble, Performance information ! scope="col" colspan="7"|Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ITA <ref>Italian album chart positions for The Three Tenors: *For ''Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert'' and ''The Three Tenors in Concert 1994'': {{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it|access-date=14 June 2022}} ''Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Carreras".'' *For ''The Three Tenors: Paris 1998'': {{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/history.kl#/history|title=History|language=it|publisher=FIMI|access-date=14 June 2022}} ''Set "Ricerca per" on "Titolo", then search "THE THREE TENORS PARIS 1998" and click "Classifiche".'' *For ''The 3 Tenors Christmas'': {{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it|access-date=14 June 2022}} ''Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Tre Tonri".'' </ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" |SPA <ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | AUS <ref>{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jos%E9+Carreras|title=Discography José Carreras|publisher=Australian Charts Portal|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | NLD <ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jos%E9+Carreras|title=Discografie José Carreras|language=nl|publisher=Dutch Charts Portal|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | SWE <ref>{{cite web|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jos%E9+Carreras|title=Discography José Carreras|publisher=Swedish Charts Portal|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | UK <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28117/carreras-domingo-pavarotti/|title=Carreras/Domingo/Pavarotti|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | US <ref>''Billboard 200'' positions for The Three Tenors: *For ''Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert'' and ''The Three Tenors in Concert 1994'': {{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206221820/https://www.billboard.com/artist/zubin-mehta/|archive-date=6 December 2021|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/zubin-mehta/|title=Zubin Mehta Chart History (''Billboard'' 200)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 June 2022}} *For ''Paris 1998'': {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1998-09-12/|title=Billboard 200|date=12 September 1998|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 June 2022}} *For ''The 3 Tenors Christmas'': {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/vienna-symphony/chart-history/tlp/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614171218/https://www.billboard.com/artist/vienna-symphony/chart-history/tlp/|archive-date=14 June 2022|title=Vienna Symphony Chart History (''Billboard'' 200)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|''Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert'' | *Released: 1990 *Label: Decca *Grammy Award and nominations *Brit Award |Zubin Mehta Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra Orchestra del Teatro Municipal di Roma (7 July 1990, Terme di Caracalla, Rome) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 35 |AUS: 6× Platinum<ref name=ARIACert92>{{cite certification|region=Australia|artist=The Three Tenors|type=album|certyear=1992|access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref> US: 3× Platinum<ref name="USCert3Ts">{{cite certification|region=United States|artist="Three Tenors, The"|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> UK: 5× Platinum<ref name="UKCert">{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=Placido Domingo|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> CAN: 3× Platinum<ref name="CANCert3Ts">{{cite certification|region=Canada|artist=Three Tenors|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> GER: Platinum<ref name="GERCert3Ts">{{cite certification|region=Germany|artist=Pavarotti|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> AUT: 2× Platinum<ref name="AUTCert">{{cite certification|region=Austria|artist=Domingo|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> MEX: Gold<ref name="MEXCert">{{cite certification|region=Mexico|artist=Domingo|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> BRA: 2× Platinum<ref>{{cite certification|region=Brazil|artist=Tenores|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|''The Three Tenors in Concert 1994'' | *Released: 1994 *Label: Atlantic / WEA / MV *2 Grammy nominations *Gramophone Award |Zubin Mehta Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (16 August 1994, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |US: Platinum<ref name="USCert3Ts" /> UK: 2× Platinum<ref name="UKCert" /> CAN: 2× Platinum<ref name="CANCert3Ts" /> GER: 3× Gold<ref name="GERCert3Ts" /> CHE: Platinum<ref name="SwissCert">{{cite certification|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist="3 tenors"}}</ref> FRA: Platinum<ref name="FRACert3Ts">{{cite certification|region=France|artist=Les Trois Ténors|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> AUT: 2× Platinum<ref name="AUTCert" /> AUS: Platinum<ref name=ARIACert94>{{cite certification|region=Australia|artist=The Three Tenors|type=album|certyear=1994|access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|''The Three Tenors: Paris 1998'' | *Released: 1998 *Label: Atlantic / Wea |James Levine (10 July 1998, Eiffel Tower, Paris) | 23 | – | 16 | 27 | 39 | 14 | 83 |US: Gold<ref name="USCert3Ts" /> UK: Silver<ref name="UKCert" /> FRA: Gold<ref name="FRACert">{{cite certification|region=France|artist=Domingo|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> AUT: Gold<ref name="AUTCert" /> CHE: Gold<ref name="SwissCert" /> |- !scope="row"|''The 3 Tenors Christmas'' | *Released: 2000 *Label: Sony (SK 89131) | Steven Mercurio Vienna Symphony Orchestra (23 December 1999, Vienna) | 47 | – | 50 | 19 | 59 | 57 | 54 |US: Gold<ref name="USCert3Ts" /> UK: Silver<ref name="UKCert" /> GER: Gold<ref name="GERCert3Ts" /> |}

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable" |- !Title !Album details !Conductor, Ensemble, Performance information !Certifications |- |''Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert'' | *Released: 1990 *Format: VHS / DVD |Zubin Mehta Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra Orchestra del Teatro Municipal di Roma (7 August 1990, Terme di Caracalla, Rome) |US: 5× Platinum<ref name="USCert3Ts" /> CAN: 4× Platinum<ref name="CANCert3Ts" /> GER: Platinum<ref name="GERCert3Ts" /> |- |''The Three Tenors in Concert 1994'' | *Released: 1994 *Label: Warner Music *Format: VHS / DVD |Zubin Mehta Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (16 August 1994, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles) |US: 5× Platinum<ref name="USCert3Ts" /> UK: 2× Platinum<ref name="UKCert" /> |- |''The Vision: The Making of the 'Three Tenors in Concert''' | *Released: 1995 *Label: Warner Music (VHS) / Kultur (DVD) *Format: VHS / DVD (as an extra feature) | | |- |''The Three Tenors: Paris 1998'' | *Released: 1998 *Label: Universal Music / Decca *Format: VHS / DVD |James Levine (10 July 1998, Eiffel Tower, Paris) |US: Gold<ref name="USCert3Ts" /> UK: Gold<ref name="UKCert" /> FRA: Platinum<ref name="FRACert" /> |- |''The 3 Tenors Christmas'' | *Released: 2000 *Format: VHS / DVD |Steven Mercurio Vienna Symphony Orchestra (23 December 1999, Vienna) | |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.josecarreras.net/ José Carreras] *[https://www.placidodomingo.com/ Placido Domingo] *[https://www.lucianopavarottifoundation.com/ Luciano Pavarotti]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Three Tenors}} Category:The Three Tenors Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Tenor vocal groups Category:Italian musical trios Category:Spanish musical trios Category:Musical groups established in 1990 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2007