It was the second monumental loss in the opera world in recent months. American soprano Beverly Sills died July 2 at her home in New York. She was 78 and suffered from cancer.

"Pavarotti is the biggest superstar of all," the late New York Times music critic Harold Schonberg once said.

In his heyday, he was known as the "King of the High C's" for the ease with which he tossed off difficult top notes.

Pavarotti starred in a film called "Yes, Giorgio" and he wrote an autobiography, "I, Luciano Pavarotti."

Just this week, the Italian government honored him with an award for "excellence in Italian culture".

In his final statement, Pavarotti said the award gave him "the opportunity to continue to celebrate the magic of a life dedicated to the arts and it fills me with pride and joy to have been able to promote my magnificent country abroad."

Pavarotti had three daughters with his first wife, Lorenza, Cristina and Giuliana; and one, Alice, with his second wife.

At his side when he died were his wife, Nicoletta; his four daughters; his sister, Gabriela; his nephews and close relatives and friends, Robson said.

双语资讯

(AP) 世界著名男高音歌唱家卢奇亚诺•帕瓦罗蒂于本周四逝世，享年71岁。帕瓦罗蒂凭借其激昂的“高音C”及热情洋溢的演唱成为继卡卢索之后最受人们爱戴和最著名的男高音歌唱家，并成为20世纪晚期最负盛名的几位歌剧大师之一。

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