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/entertainment/6982772.stm

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

Version 0 Version 1
Italians pay respect to Pavarotti Home town mourns singer Pavarotti
(1 day later)
Hundreds of people have gathered in Modena's main square to pay their respects to the celebrated tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Thousands of mourners have been filing past the open coffin of tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who is lying in state in the cathedral of his home town of Modena.
His body is lying in state in the cathedral in Modena, in northern Italy, until his funeral on Saturday. The singer's body, dressed in a black tuxedo, white tails and scarf, will remain in place until his funeral on Saturday in the northern Italian city.
The singer died at his home, aged 71, on Thursday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006. Well-wishers warmly applauded as nine pall bearers carried Pavarotti's white coffin into the cathedral.
A stream of mourners applauded as the nine pall bearers carried Pavarotti's body up the steps of the cathedral. The singer died on Thursday aged 71. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
His wife and other family members grieved nearby.
Outpouring of griefOutpouring of grief
His coffin is draped in a red veil embroidered with a treble clef and surrounded by flowers.
It is estimated to have been viewed by 9,000 people since 0000 local time (2200 GMT) on Thursday night, according to the Associated Press.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Modena says that a steady stream of people have been coming to pay their respects.
The opera star's white casket was carried by nine pall bearers
Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, wept and spoke to well-wishers as the casket was carried into the cathedral on Thursday evening.
One mourner, Simone Sarrau, who queued until midnight to pay his respects, said: "He's a symbol. He's a symbol of Modena, a symbol of Italy, he's international.
"I think his kind of affection is justified," the 32-year-old told AP.
"It's not just Modena - it's the whole world. He's a one-of-a-kind. There's only him, and there will always only be him," added Mr Sarrau.
Luigi Febbrano, a 51-year-old court clerk, added: "He brought to the world everything that is good about this town - simplicity, honesty and happiness."
State occasion
Local authorities are preparing for an outpouring of grief during the funeral on Saturday afternoon.Local authorities are preparing for an outpouring of grief during the funeral on Saturday afternoon.
There are still no details from the family as to what kind of funeral they want, but Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has expressed his wish to attend and correspondents say it is starting to take the shape of a state funeral. The family have expressed a wish for a solemn service, but the funeral is shaping up to be an important occasion state occasion, with the attendance of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
Across the city, the flags are flying at half mast and in the windows are signs which read "Adieu maestro". Well-wishers have been signing books of condolence
Giant television screens are being set up near the cathedral and satellites from all around the world have gathered in the square. U2 frontman Bono plus tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras are among the celebrities who have already confirmed they will be at the service.
People are congregating In the main square in Modena Blind opera star Andrea Bocelli will sing Panis Angelicus during the ceremony - a piece which was often performed by Pavarotti.
"Thanks to Luciano Pavarotti, the name of Modena has gone around the world as the name of a city much bigger than it actually is," mayor Giorgio Pighi told the Associated Press news agency. The funeral will be shown live on Italian television, while the country's airforce will stage a fly-past after the service.
Tributes pour in Across the city, the flags are flying at half-mast and in the windows are signs which read "Adieu maestro".
Fellow tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras have led tributes to Pavarotti. Giant television screens are being set up near the cathedral and TV channels' satellites have been positioned in the square.
"I always admired the God-given glory of his voice," said Domingo, who performed with Pavarotti in Three Tenors concerts for more than 10 years. "Thanks to Luciano Pavarotti, the name of Modena has gone around the world as the name of a city much bigger than it actually is," mayor Giorgio Pighi told the Associated Press.
He remembered "that unmistakable special timbre from the bottom up to the very top of the tenor range".
"I also loved his wonderful sense of humour," he said.
"On several occasions of our Three Tenors concerts, we had trouble remembering we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun ourselves."
Jose Carreras, the third singer in the trio, called Pavarotti "one of the most important tenors of all time".
Milan's La Scala theatre - where Pavarotti appeared 140 times - held a minute's silence for the star on Thursday.