Si's and High Cs With the Three Tenors

CHICAGO — "How are you, sir?" said Luciano Pavarotti to Jose Carreras.

"Como s-ta?"

"Too-toe benny," said Carreras. Or maybe he said, "Mule-toe benny."

Pavarotti was in New York and Carreras was in Turin and I was in Chicago, and we were all on a conference call, waiting for Placido Domingo, who was in Washington, D.C.

The Three Tenors have been the Backstreet Boys of opera ever since their first concert 10 years ago in Rome. At the time, Carreras was returning to his career after a bout of leukemia.

Today, the boys are very, very busy. They have a new CD, "The Three Tenors Christmas" (Sony), and they'll be appearing at the United Center on Sunday.

And so, for the first time ever-- and I think you'll see why--they agreed to be interviewed at the same time by telephone. Before I got to ask any questions, the Two Tenors greeted each other with a lot of prego, si, ciao and grazie. When Mr. Pavarotti said, "Bravo, bravo, bravo," I jumped in.

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Question: Mr. Carreras, how did you come up with the Three Tenors?

Carreras: I think to myself, What can you do from the classical music field that is different and exciting? And the very first thing I think is, "Put the three of us together." Any of the others could have said this. The important thing is Placido and Luciano agreed from the first minute.

Pavarotti: I thought it was fantastic. There would be no need to prove who is the best of us. And when Carreras returned to our world, then I thought this is the best way to celebrate, to be all together.

Question: Do you think the Three Tenors will ever become the Four Tenors with Andrea Bocelli?

Pavarotti: Why should we? I think we are already a beautiful crew. We have been together for so many years. Ten years is quite something. I don't think it is necessary.

Carreras: I agree 100%. The day one of us is not able to perform, that is the end of the Three Tenors.

Question: Is there much competition between you?

Pavarotti: Depends on what you mean. If you mean to try to be better and better, then yes. We have to be very good because we are each of us singing with two very important talents.

Question: Mr. Carreras, do you read your reviews?

Carreras: Honestly, not anymore. (Pause) But to be very open with you, sometimes I learn from bad reviews when they say things in a positive way. I learn many things from my mistakes if I respect the integrity of the journalist.