The Taormina Film Festival kicks off with super-tenors Placido Domingo, Vittorio Grigolo; Amber Heard Makes First Film Festival Appearance Since Johnny Depp Trial

Taormina's new film festival kicked off Friday night in the Sicilian town's Teatro Antico amphitheater in an unusual but beautiful style with the "Pavarotti Forever" benefit event.

Placido Domingo, who was part of the famous trio The Three Tenors with Pavarotti and José Carreras, was among those which celebrate the memory of the super-tenor in an event combining filmed archives and live performances.

The 82-year-old Spanish star was joined on stage by Italian opera singer Vittorio Grigolo, long tipped as Pavarotti's successor, and a host of other great classical music stars, including Marcelo Àlvarez, Aida Garifullina and Andrea Griminelli.

Talking to Deadline after the gig, Domingo admitted it was moving singing and then gazing out onto the big screen to see interviews and performances by the former maestro.

"We have so many amazing memories of our friend and it's very sad that he can't not being here now but life is life and so we remember those days with a great friend, great artist and we had so much fun singing along and then being able to watch it on screen is just beautiful” , he said.

Beatrice Venezi, who is co-artistic director of the film festival with Barrett Wissman, directed the orchestra on a balmy summer evening as artists paid homage to some of Pavarotti's most famous arias from operas such as La Bohème and Rigoletto.

Domingo and Grigolo praised Venezi's conducting skills and said he was refreshing to see a female conductor on the podium for such an important evening.

"Luciano loved female talent in this profession, and I think he would have loved to see a woman strong lead this event,” said Grigolo.

Friday night's concert also featured a number of young talents who were supported by the Foundation Luciano Pavarotti, which was created in the name of the late artist...