,
Luciano Pavarotti,
Lucio Dalla and
Zucchero on the first edition (1992) Ten benefit concerts were held between 1992 and 2003. The concerts have been broadcast in various countries and each concert was released as a compilation album and DVD under
London Records/
Decca Records.
The Pavarotti & Friends Collection: The Complete Concerts, 1992–2000, a DVD featuring the first seven concerts, was released in November 2002 under Decca.
Pavarotti & Friends (1992) The first Pavarotti & Friends concert was held on 27 September 1992, featuring guest stars
Sting,
Bob Geldof,
Brian May and
Mike Oldfield. A compilation album and DVD was released under Decca Records. The compilation album sold around 1.5 million units worldwide The concert was broadcast on
PBS and a compilation album and DVD was released under
London Records (now Decca Records).
Pavarotti & Friends for War Child (1996) The Pavarotti & Friends for War Child concert was held on 20 June 1996. Proceeds from the concert were donated to the international aid agency,
War Child, specifically in aid of children in
Bosnia. The concert featured guest performances by
Elton John,
Sheryl Crow,
Eric Clapton,
Liza Minnelli and
Joan Osborne. The compilation arrived at position 19 in Danish Chart.
Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia (1998) The Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia was held on 9 June 1998 in support of the War Child charity, specifically to benefit the orphans of war-torn
Liberia. The concert was directed by
Spike Lee and featured guest performances by
Stevie Wonder,
Celine Dion,
Jon Bon Jovi,
Spice Girls,
Trisha Yearwood,
Natalie Cole and
The Corrs. The concert was broadcast on
BBC and
PBS, and on
syndication in the US, and also released as a compilation album and DVD.
Pavarotti & Friends for Guatemala and Kosovo (1999) The Pavarotti & Friends for
Guatemala and
Kosovo concert was held on 1 June 1999 and raised $1 million for War Child programs to aid young refugees from Kosovo and Guatemala. The concert featured guest performances by
Mariah Carey,
Ricky Martin,
B.B. King,
Joe Cocker,
Boyzone,
Lionel Richie,
Gianni Morandi,
Renato Zero and
Gloria Estefan. The concert was released as a compilation DVD and album.
Pavarotti & Friends for Cambodia and Tibet (2000) The Pavarotti & Friends for Cambodia and Tibet concert took place on 6 June 2000 in support of a number of charities to benefit children in
Cambodia and
Tibet. The concert featured guest performers including
George Michael,
Eurythmics,
Aqua,
Enrique Iglesias,
Monica Naranjo,
Darren Hayes,
Caetano Veloso,
Tracy Chapman,
Irene Grandi and
Skunk Anansie. Special guests included the
Dalai Lama who opened the event.
Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan (2001) The Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan concert took place on 29 May 2001 to raise money for Afghanistan refugees through the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) programme. The concert featured guest performances by
Tom Jones,
Barry White,
George Benson,
Anastacia,
Deep Purple,
Bond and
Morcheeba, as well as guest appearances by actors
Michael Douglas and
Catherine Zeta-Jones and designer
Donatella Versace.
Pavarotti & Friends for SOS Iraq (2003) The Pavarotti & Friends for SOS Iraq concert was held on 27 May 2003 to raise money for Iraqi refugees in Iran through the UNHCR programme. The concert featured guest performances by
Bono,
Queen,
Eric Clapton,
Deep Purple,
Ricky Martin,
Andrea Bocelli,
Lionel Richie,
Laura Pausini,
Zucchero and
Maná, and raised over €2 million for the UNHCR cause. ==Criticism==