Luciano Pavarotti Died @ 71

[dmegametal#1]

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died at the age of 71, his manager told The Associated Press Thursday morning.


Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti smiles during a press conference in Stuttgart, Germany in this Oct. 13, 2005 file photo. (AP / Daniel Maurer)
Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and had surgery in July 2006 at a New York hospital to remove a pancreatic tumour. He cancelled all remaining concerts for his Worldwide Farewell Tour and had not made any public appearances to this day.

He underwent another two weeks of treatment last month, and was released from hospital in his hometown of Modena on Aug. 25. The tenor was being attended to at home by cancer specialists up until his death at 5 a.m. local time.

"The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life," his manager Terri Robson told AP in a statement. "In fitting with the approach that characterised his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."

Pavarotti's death comes the day after he received a new government award for his work in promoting Italian culture in Italy and abroad.

He became the first recipient of the Excellence in Italian Culture Award, the Italian Culture Ministry said in a statement Tuesday evening.

Milan's famous La Scala opera house, where Pavarotti first performed more than 40 years ago, said it would help organize a singing contest dedicated to the tenor.

"It is a precious chance to pay homage to the career of Luciano Pavarotti, a symbol of Italian music in the world," La Scala said in a statement.

Pancreatic cancer is usually fatal, with only a 4 per cent survival rate five years after detection. Up to 80 per cent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within the first year.

Considered one of the greatest operatic tenors of his generation, Pavarotti's voice, in his prime, was described as one of the most beautiful since that of the late great Swedish singer Jussi Bjoerling, who died in 1960.

But Pavarotti wasn't happy just singing at La Scala or the Met. He shared the stage with rock stars including Eric Clapton and Bono and even pop stars like the Spice Girls.

While his participation in the "Three Tenors" -- with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras -- drew criticism from opera purists, the venture was hugely successful.

Each singer netted more than US$1 million from each concert, and the tenors' first album together sold some 20 million copies, making it the biggest-selling classical record of all time.

"The word commercial is exactly what we want," said Pavarotti after one of the Three Tenors concerts.

"We've reached 1.5 billion people with opera. If you want to use the word commercial, or something more derogatory, we don't care. Use whatever you want."

With a report from The Associated Press

very sad for a guy his stature and was a great tenor/opera singer...RIP

[even13flow]

Yeah that guy was a badass singer. He will be missed!

[memikma]

R.I.P.

[Luís]

Last night I was hearing on the news how serious his will was and now this. Rest in peace, great man the took opera to the people. What an awesome voice, huh?

[minus clover]

RIP

[boltsi]

R.I.P Pavarotti

[madeoffire]

Very sad..great singer

[nuno_m]

Sad News... he had a kickass voice
Rest In Peace Luciano Pavarotti