LUCIANO PAVAROTTI - OPERA LEGEND PAVAROTTI DIES

OPERA LEGEND PAVAROTTI DIES

Italian opera legend Luciano Pavarotti has died at the age of 71 in his home town of Modena.

The star's manager Terri Robson confirmed news of his passing in an announcement today.

Last night, Italian media reported that Pavarotti was in a serious condition. He had been in hospital for two weeks since being admitted on August 8th.

The tenor was forced to cancel a farewell tour last year and underwent surgery on a dangerous tumour. Since then he has undergone five bouts of chemotherapy in his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Pavarotti, who along with Placido Domingo and José Carreras formed the Three Tenors, had performed to sell-out crowds around the world and sold best-selling classical albums during a career which spanned four decades.

The opera singer, renowned for his rotund figure and jovial personality, is likely to be remembered best for his famous performances of Puccini's Nessun Dorma, which became the theme tune on British television for the 1990 football world cup in Italy.