The Scottish singing sensation will be heading into town next week as the English Touring Opera takes over the Arts Theatre.
He has recently signed a £1 million record deal and has been nominated for a classical Brit award. But as a 23-stone teenager a few years ago things were a little different.
Before embarking on a career in classical music the 23-year-old lost an incredible 10 stone - and he says that a similar diet could also do wonders for Pavarotti.
"I was really fat," he admits. "I lost a lot of weight a couple of years ago and that opened many doors for me. As a teenager, I was really chubby and it never got in my way, but I made a decision to lose weight, and now I've lost 10 stone. It was a big decision for me, and it was the best career move I've ever made.
"Being large is part of the illusion of opera, but it doesn't help you at all. In fact, you would probably hinder yourself.
Pavarotti's is a once-in-a-lifetime voice, and he's had a fantastic career, but you kind of wonder what more things he could have done if he was slightly trimmer.
"I think he's had his day now though. He's quite happy to sit in Naples and eat what he likes because of his wonderful legacy."
The ETO is a regular visitor to Cambridge and is highly regarded for its English language versions of some of the world's most enduring operas. Next week sees them tackling Mozart's The Seraglio, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Oneginand Johann Strauss's Spirit of Vienna.
Nicky will be tackling two very different roles during the week, testing his acting skills as well as his voice to the limit, and he'll be the youngest member of the cast.
"I'm covering the lead role in The Seraglio, and he is a bit of a heroic tenor, which is always quite easy to place. The other guy is a philandering count in the Spirit of Viennawho gets it off with just about everybody, which is about as far removed as possible from my real life so it's nice to get a few snogs in there.
"It's all acting and whatever happens you've got to try and possess the character.
I'm not sure what I'd do to get into preparation for snogging lots of women - just have a light lunch but no onions."
Nicky has always had a passion for performance, and before he became noticed for his voice he decided he wanted to be an actor. It's a dream he has kept hold of, and next year he will be in a new Scottish film, Rhythm and Blues,playing a mental patient who believes he is an angel.
But he says his voice is the most important thing.
"It's a discipline, and you have to completely embrace it, but people embrace it in different ways. Some people are singing personalities and others are singers who have a personality.
"People like Domingo or Pavarotti are singers first and foremost, but they have also become personalities, however, someone like Aled Jones who has maybe not had the same level of training is more of a presenter of the music.
"For me to have a long career I think you really have to put the time and training into your voice. I think there's so many artists around at the moment who are flashes in the pan, and it's fine if that's what you want to do, but it's really important for me to challenge myself."
The Seraglio will be performed on Tuesday and Friday next week, Eugene Oneginwill be on offer on Wednesday and Saturday and Spirit of Viennawill be on Thursday. All performances start at 7.30pm and tickets are £10-£35.
On Monday, Nicky and several others from the tour will give a concert at Fitzwilliam College at 8pm. Tickets are £7-£12.50. To book call (01223) 503333.
Source:CEN
