The world lost a fantastic operatic tenor this week; a tenor that is probably as well-known in the U.S. as any movie star or rock star. Luciano Pavarotti, beloved Italian tenor and one of the famous "Three Tenors" died at his home in Modena, Italy of pancreatic cancer. According to
Forbes.com, "The 71-year-old was considered one of the greatest voices of his generation, and achieved success well beyond the ranks of classical music enthusiasts.
He won first prize in a competition in 1961 and was rewarded with the role of Rodolphe in Puccini's 'La Boheme' in nearby Reggio Emilia.
Despite his success, he never fully learned to read music, preferring to memorise his roles.
In 1996 he left his wife Adua after 35 years of marriage and three grown-up daughters for his secretary Nicoletta Mantovani, whom he married in 2003, they had one child.
The singer's weight caused him increasing health problems in his later years, and he also ran into trouble with the Italian tax authorities, with whom he reportedly reached a settlement for the payment of arrears amounting to millions of euros.
At the time of his death he had been suffering from ill-health, having undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer in July 2006 followed by chemotherapy, and a series of farewell concerts had been postponed."
