Luciano Pavarotti Dead At 71

Early this morning, Luciano Pavarotti, one of the greatest tenors of his generation, has died at his home in Modena, Italy, at age 71.

One of the most successful and admired opera singers of all time, Luciano Pavarotti was king among tenors from the late 1960s through the 1990s. His voice was noted for its exciting upper register, and tailor-made for the operas of Verdi, Bellini, Donizetti, and Puccini.

His vocal longevity, which kept him singing youthfully well into his sixties, and still beautifully after that, is a credit to his commanding technique and artistry, and remarkable considering his nearly 40 years of performing.