The great Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died at the age of 71.In Britain, he will forever be known as the man who brought classical music to the masses with his performance of Puccini's Nessun Dorma, the anthem of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
But to serious fans he was known for the unforced beauty and thrilling urgency of his voice, his vibrant high Cs and ebullient showmanship making him one the world's most beloved tenors.
Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and underwent further treatment in August.
But to serious fans he was known for the unforced beauty and thrilling urgency of his voice, his vibrant high Cs and ebullient showmanship making him one the world's most beloved tenors.
Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and underwent further treatment in August.
A proud Italian, Pavarotti had a long and happy relationship with Britain, once describing it as "one of the most important countries for me".
He formed an unlikely but close friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales, and was so upset at her death he turned down an invitation to sing at her funeral.
"I always admired the God-given glory of his voice - that unmistakable special timbre from the bottom up to the very top of the tenor range," opera star Placido Domingo said in a statement from Los Angeles.
"I also loved his wonderful sense of humour and on several occasions of our concerts with Jose Carreras - the so-called Three Tenors concerts - we had trouble remembering that we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun between ourselves."
Terri Robson, Pavarotti's agent and manager, said she would remember him for his love of life as well as his amazing voice. She added: "No tenor alive today will ever come close to him. He was just formidable as a talent and as a personality.''
He formed an unlikely but close friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales, and was so upset at her death he turned down an invitation to sing at her funeral.
"I always admired the God-given glory of his voice - that unmistakable special timbre from the bottom up to the very top of the tenor range," opera star Placido Domingo said in a statement from Los Angeles.
"I also loved his wonderful sense of humour and on several occasions of our concerts with Jose Carreras - the so-called Three Tenors concerts - we had trouble remembering that we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun between ourselves."
Terri Robson, Pavarotti's agent and manager, said she would remember him for his love of life as well as his amazing voice. She added: "No tenor alive today will ever come close to him. He was just formidable as a talent and as a personality.''
One of Pavarotti's fondest memories was his Hyde Park concert in the summer of 1991. The televised event was the first classical concert in the park's history. Playing to around 150,000 people in the pouring rain, he looked to the front row and saw Diana with the Prince of Wales, beaming despite the bad weather.
"It was one of the happiest days of my life," he said later.
In 1990 he achieved pop star status with Nessun Dorma, an aria from Puccini's Turandot, which became the theme song for the World Cup held in Italy. It was followed by the phenomenally successful series of Three Tenors concerts with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.
As well as taking opera to the world's football terraces, he also took it to the top of the pop charts, when The Essential Pavarotti became the first classical album to reach number one in the UK pop charts.
He also collaborated with Diana on a series of charity projects, singing at a concert to help raise money for dying children in Wales, while she began helping with his favourite charity War Child - set up to help the children of war-torn Bosnia.
"It was one of the happiest days of my life," he said later.
In 1990 he achieved pop star status with Nessun Dorma, an aria from Puccini's Turandot, which became the theme song for the World Cup held in Italy. It was followed by the phenomenally successful series of Three Tenors concerts with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.
As well as taking opera to the world's football terraces, he also took it to the top of the pop charts, when The Essential Pavarotti became the first classical album to reach number one in the UK pop charts.
He also collaborated with Diana on a series of charity projects, singing at a concert to help raise money for dying children in Wales, while she began helping with his favourite charity War Child - set up to help the children of war-torn Bosnia.
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