Opera, Extra Soap

By Rebecca Winters

The low notes ring loudest in The King and I, a tart tell-all due in October from Herbert Breslin, LUCIANO PAVAROTTI'S former publicist. In this tale of "a beautiful, simple, lovely guy who turned into a very determined, aggressive and somewhat unhappy superstar," Breslin claims Pavarotti lip-synchs when he's tired, often forgets lyrics and calls pals "stupido." The round-bellied tenor requires a limo to travel just a block, says Breslin, and "has to have gained and lost more than 5,000 pounds" during their 36year partnership. In a 2003 interview in the book, Pavarotti says, "Herbert was my wife in the opera." The singer may have to change that tune: O sole mio?