Italian opera legend Luciano Pavarotti, who brought opera to the masses as one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century, has died at his home in northern Italy.
He was 71 years old. The tenor's manager, Terri Robson, says Pavarotti died early Thursday at his home in Modena.
He had fought pancreatic cancer for more than a year. Thousands of people lined the streets of Modena Thursday and broke into applause as a sign of respect as a hearse carried Pavarotti's casket from his home to the city's cathedral for a funeral Saturday. The Vienna State opera raised a black flag in mourning, and the guards at Britain's Buckingham Palace played Pavarotti's signature aria, "Nessun Dorma" (from Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot"). Spanish-born tenor Placido Domingo said that he always admired the God-given glory of Pavarotti's voice. Another Spanish Tenor Jose Carreras called Pavarotti a dear friend. In a White House statement, President and Mrs. Bush called Pavarotti a great humanitarian as well as one of the most accomplished singers of all time.