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 20 August 2008 20:49 BST

Pavarotti laid to rest

Saturday, 08 Sep 2007 16:25
Luciano Pavarotti: October 12th 1935 to September 6th 2007
Legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti has been laid to rest in his hometown of Modena, northern Italy.

The opera singer's family had asked for his funeral to be a private affair, but thousands of people crowded outside the invitation-only ceremony at Modena cathedral.

Pavarotti died on Thursday morning at the age of 71 after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer.

His body, dressed in a black tuxedo and clutching a white handkerchief and rosary beads, had been on public view since dawn today ahead of being taken to the cathedral.

Tens of thousands of Italians are thought to have filed past his coffin over the last three days.

The tenor's funeral, broadcast live on Italian television, was attended by a range of musical figures reflecting his universal appeal.

U2 singer Bono, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras – with whom Pavarotti formed the Three Tenors – and Milan's La Scala opera house general manager Stephane Lissner all attended.

Pavarotti's second wife Nicoletta Mantovani, their four-year-old daughter Alice and his three daughters from his first marriage to Adua Veroni were present as well.

Vatican cardinal Tarcisio Bertone conducted the ceremony itself, while tenor Andrea Bocelli sang Panis Angelicus.

Italian prime minister Romano Prodi and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan were also in attendance at Modena cathedral and the Italian air force conducted a flyby as a mark of respect.

Pavarotti was buried at the Montale Rangone cemetery where members of his family, including his stillborn son Riccardo, are buried.

Pavarotti – a passionate football fan – gave one of his most memorable performances alongside Domingo and Carreras at the 1990 World Cup in Italy singing Puccini's Nessun Dorma.End of story


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