PAVAROTTI'S PARADISE
“This place is enchanting, it is paradise here.”
A Most Singular Friendship: Pavarotti and the YTL Family
The relationship between the late Luciano Pavarotti and the YTL family stands as one of the more remarkable cultural partnerships of the late twentieth century—a bond forged not in the great opera houses of Europe or America, but on a tiny private island off the west coast of Malaysia.
Luciano Pavarotti with Tan Sri Dato' Seri (Dr) Yeoh Tiong Lay
1994: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
It all began in March 1994 with the opening of the second phase of the iconic Pangkor Laut Resort. Tan Sri Dato’ Francis Yeoh of YTL Hotels—an ardent admirer of Luciano Pavarotti—invited the world-renowned tenor to the island for a singular performance. Pavarotti sang for an exclusive audience that included the then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had officiated the launch.
The maestro, accustomed to performing for crowds of 150,000 at Hyde Park or half a million in Central Park, was instantly captivated by Pangkor Laut Resort. He declared: “This place is enchanting, it is paradise here. This morning when I wake up, I went out, I was really moved, almost crying to see how beautiful things has done God. Because this is really paradise.” Moved by its beauty, he dedicated the song ‘O Paradiso’ to the island.
From that moment, a warm friendship blossomed between the YTL family and the great tenor, and together they wove many treasured moments into the fabric of YTL Hotels’ most cherished places.
2002: A Return for Peace
A man of grand presence, profound voice, and immense heart, Pavarotti was described by Ron Howard thus: “His artistic ambition, propelled by his massive talent, and his deep love for humanity drove his career and the powerful bond with his audiences, but they also fuelled his other life as a world philanthropist.”
True to this spirit, the United Nations Ambassador for Peace dedicated his talent to humanitarian causes, returning to the award-winning Pangkor Laut Resort eight years later to perform a Concert of Peace for the Asian Global Peace Forum. In a moving final encore, he dedicated “Torna a Surriento” to the then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir, and his wife—a heartfelt surprise for the distinguished guests.
During that same visit, he also officially opened the Spa Village Pangkor Laut. Upon experiencing it, he later declared the award-winning sanctuary “a miracle.”
2003: A Final Generous Gesture
On a balmy, enchanted September evening in 2003, Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, and Plácido Domingo—the legendary Three Tenors—took to the stage for what would become one of their final collective performances, and their first and only complimentary concert.
Sponsored by YTL Corporation Berhad, the event was arranged for the residents of Bath to mark the opening of the new Thermae Bath Spa and the acquisition of Wessex Water. The evening also featured the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, which presented a medley of Malay melodies—a gesture that spoke to the cultural bridge the YTL family had built.
An Enduring Legacy: Opera in Paradise
The family’s commitment to Pavarotti’s memory remains strong to this day. The resort’s largest suite bears his name, a quiet but fitting tribute to the man who once declared the island paradise. Yet it is the annual Opera in Paradise event that stands as the most heartfelt testament to their enduring bond.
Conceived as a labour of love, the event was born from the family’s desire to honour the maestro’s legacy in the place he held most dear. For the YTL family, Pangkor Laut Resort was not merely a venue for Pavarotti’s performances—it was where a profound friendship took root, and where the tenor found a sanctuary that moved him to tears. Opera in Paradise was created to ensure that his spirit would forever echo across the very island he had blessed with his voice, allowing new generations to experience the magic he once felt.
The event features world-class musicians, including Andrea Griminelli—Pavarotti’s longtime protégé and the event’s musical director—who has spoken of his honour in being involved “because of the relationship I enjoy with the YTL family.” It is a celebration not just of opera, but of friendship, memory, and the belief that great art can forge bonds that transcend time and distance.
~ For me, music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion. ~
In celebration of the Maestro Luciano Pavarotti, a musical legend, a beloved memory, a dear friend.
