[Archive 2007-09-06] Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti dies at age 71

Historical archive — originally published 2007-09-06. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

World-famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti died early Thursday morning, according to a statement by his manager. On August 10th, Pavarotti, 71, was admitted to Modena University Polyclinic in Modena, Italy with a high fever. The cause of the fever was unknown, though some reports stated that he was being treated for pneumonia.

Pavarotti had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, and in July of 2006 he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mass. According to Nicoletta Mantovani, Pavarotti's wife, he had also been receiving radiation treatments.

Pavarotti's death came only one day after becoming the first recipient of the new "Excellence in Italian Culture Award" from the Italian government, the Italian Culture Ministry reported on Tuesday evening. The tenor received the award for promoting Italian culture abroad and within Italy itself. The opera house where he performed for the first time 40 years ago, La Scala opera house in Milan, stated it will organize a singing contest in honor of the Italian tenor.

Source and licence

Text adapted from Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti dies at age 71 by Wikinews contributors under CC BY 2.5. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. Contributor history.