Hundreds pay respects as Pavarotti lies in state

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2007

MODENA, Italy (AFP) — Hundreds of mourners stood in line Friday to pay their last respects to legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti as the body of the world's "most famous Italian" lay in state in the cathedral of his hometown Modena.

Hailed by many as the greatest tenor of his generation, Pavarotti, 71, died early Thursday at his villa near this northern Italian town after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Pavarotti's wife, Nicoletta, who was at the cathedral, wept as about 1,000 mourners arrived to pay homage to the opera singer.

The public will be admitted until Saturday morning, ahead of the funeral scheduled for 1300 GMT the same day, with Prime Minister Romano Prodi among those expected to attend.

"Modena is identified with Pavarotti, who made...