Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti died early Thursday at the age of 71 in Modena, Italy, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The great tenor Luciano Pavarotti died today at 5 a.m. at his home in Modena, his manager Terri Robson said.

Pavarotti underwent an operation for pancreatic cancer in July last year and was hospitalized last month, ANSA said, adding that a hearse had been parked in front of his villa in the northern town of Modena.

Pavarotti, hailed as the greatest tenor of his generation, had been staying at his villa in Modena in north-central Italy, with his wife Nicoletta Mantovani and their four-year-old daughter Alice before being admitted to hospital.

Pavarotti had been preparing to leave New York in July 2006 to resume a farewell tour when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic cancer. He underwent surgery in a New York hospital and was forced to cancel his remaining 2006 concerts.

Pavarotti gave his last performance at the New York Metropolitan Opera on March 13, 2004.

In February 2006, at the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Turin, he brought the house down with his trademark Nessun Dorma aria.

Born into an ordinary family in 1935, Pavarotti showed his gift ever since he was a child. In 1955, he went to receive professional voice training and won his first prize in 1961. In 1972, he was baptized "King of Hi-C" for his marvelous talent for hitting the high notes.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2007)