This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6981552.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
NI tributes paid to Pavarotti NI tributes paid to Pavarotti
(31 minutes later)
Tributes have been paid to the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who died in his home city of Modena aged 71.Tributes have been paid to the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who died in his home city of Modena aged 71.
The singer, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, had helped bring a new audience for opera.The singer, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, had helped bring a new audience for opera.
The head of the Belfast School of Music, Joe McKee, followed his career and said "sheer beauty" came out of his throat.The head of the Belfast School of Music, Joe McKee, followed his career and said "sheer beauty" came out of his throat.
"He had one of those immediately identifiable voices, even across the spectrum... you only need to hear a couple of seconds and the man on the street knew that voice," he said."He had one of those immediately identifiable voices, even across the spectrum... you only need to hear a couple of seconds and the man on the street knew that voice," he said.
He sang in the Grand Opera House in Belfast in Madam Butterfly in the 1960s, before he had made his great breakthrough. He sang in the Grand Opera House in Belfast in Madam Butterfly in May 1963 in the role of BF Pinkerton. It was before he had made his great breakthrough and was his UK debut.
It was not his only performance in the city, with an appearance in 1999 at Stormont.It was not his only performance in the city, with an appearance in 1999 at Stormont.
Award-winning Belfast soprano Angela Feeney remembers the performance.Award-winning Belfast soprano Angela Feeney remembers the performance.
"It was a very special night for him to come to Belfast and it was amazing," she said."It was a very special night for him to come to Belfast and it was amazing," she said.
"Before, it was dreadful weather and, like he always did for me and for millions more, when he arrived the sun came out and that's also when I heard Pavarotti his voice was unmistakable... he always brought a smile to my face.""Before, it was dreadful weather and, like he always did for me and for millions more, when he arrived the sun came out and that's also when I heard Pavarotti his voice was unmistakable... he always brought a smile to my face."