Pavarotti passes away

6 September 2007 - Luciano Pavarotti has died at the age of 71.

The Italian opera legend - who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year - died at his home in Modena at 5am local time today (06.09.07).

At his side were his second wife Nicoletta, his four daughters, his sister Gabriela, his nephews and other close relatives and friends, according to an email statement from his manager Terri Robson.

Pavarotti had three daughters with his first wife Adua - Lorenza, Cristina and Giuliana - and a three-year-old daughter, Alice, with Nicoletta.

When asked about her husband's cancer battle earlier this year, Nicoletta said: He's fighting like a lion and he has never lost his heart.

Born in Modena to a baker and his factory-worker wife, Pavarotti wanted to become a professional soccer player in his youth.

In 1961 he made his debut as Rodolfo in a production of 'La Boheme' in the southern Italian city of Reggio Emilia and revealed his breathtaking tenor voice.

Pavarotti achieved worldwide fame after recording the theme song, 'Nessun Dorma', of the 1990 soccer World Cup, held in his native country.

He is credited with bringing operatic music to a mainstream audience, and was the first pop-opera star.

Pavarotti formed the famous Three Tenors with fellow opera stars Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras in 1990.

The trio paved the way for other classical music acts to achieve chart success, including current popera quartet Il Divo.

Over 100,000 people - including the then-married Prince Charles and Princess Diana - gathered in London's Hyde Park to watch Pavarotti perform, the first ever opera concert to be held there in 1992.

Just this week, the Italian government honoured Pavarotti with an award for excellence in Italian culture and La Scala and Modena's theatre announced a joint Luciano Pavarotti award.

In his final statement, the celebrated star said the awards gave him the opportunity to continue to celebrate the magic of a life dedicated to the arts and it fills me with pride and joy to have been able to promote my magnificent country abroad.

(C) BANG Media International