Famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti died early on Thursday at the age of 71 in Modena, Italy, according to Italian news agency ANSA. His manager Terri Robson said Pavarotti passed away at 5 a.m. at his home in Modena. The Italian superstar underwent an operation for pancreatic cancer in July last year and was hospitalized last month, ANSA said, adding that a hearse was now parked in front of his villa in the northern town of Modena.

According to an e-mail statement Terri Robson sent to the AP, the Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. In fitting with the approach that characterised his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness.

Speaking from inside Pavarotti's home, which was guarded by police, Pavarotti's assistant Edwin Tinoco told Sky TG 24 television that Pavarotti's final days had been calm and spent at home, the AP reported.

Vibrant High C

Born into an ordinary family in 1935, Pavarotti displayed his prodigious gifts early on, as a child. He went on to receive professional voice training in 1955 and won his first singing prize in 1961.

For serious fans, the unforced beauty and thrilling urgency of Pavarotti's voice made him the ideal interpreter of the Italian lyric repertory, especially in the 1960s and '70s when he first achieved stardom. For millions more, his charismatic performances of standards like "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot" came to represent what opera is all about. In 1972, he was baptized the "King of Hi-C" for his marvelous talent for hitting the high notes.

In the 1990s, Pavarotti's teaming with Domingo and Carreras became a music business phenomenon and spawned copycats such as the Three Irish Tenors.

In the annals of that rare and coddled breed, the operatic tenor, it may well be said the 20th century began with Enrico Caruso and ended with Pavarotti. Other tenors - Domingo included - may have drawn more praise from critics for their artistic range and insights, but none could equal the combination of natural talent and personal charm that so endeared Pavarotti to audiences.