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Thousands mourn tenor Pavarotti Thousands mourn tenor Pavarotti
(10 minutes later)
Family and friends of the late opera singer Luciano Pavarotti have gathered for his funeral in the cathedral of his home town Modena in northern Italy.Family and friends of the late opera singer Luciano Pavarotti have gathered for his funeral in the cathedral of his home town Modena in northern Italy.
Among the thousands of mourners were stars including U2's Bono and tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.Among the thousands of mourners were stars including U2's Bono and tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.
The Roman Catholic service culminated in a recording of Pavarotti's famous rendition of Nessun Dorma and a fly-past by the country's air force. The Roman Catholic service culminated in a recording of Pavarotti's famous rendition of Nessun Dorma and a fly-past by the Italian air force.
Pavarotti died on Thursday aged 71, after a long battle against cancer.Pavarotti died on Thursday aged 71, after a long battle against cancer.
The singer will be buried in a private ceremony alongside members of his family, including his parents and stillborn son, Ricardo. The singer will be buried in a private ceremony alongside members of his family, including his parents and stillborn son Ricardo.
Pavarotti had been suffering from pancreatic cancerPavarotti had been suffering from pancreatic cancer
Guests in the cathedral numbered 800 but thousands more people watched the invitation-only service on a huge television screen erected in Modena's main piazza.Guests in the cathedral numbered 800 but thousands more people watched the invitation-only service on a huge television screen erected in Modena's main piazza.
It was also broadcast live on Italian state television and the internet.It was also broadcast live on Italian state television and the internet.
The requiem mass was attended by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and celebrated by Modena's Archbishop Benito Cocchi. The requiem mass was attended by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and celebrated by Modena's Archbishop, Benito Cocchi.
It began with a moving rendition of Verdi's Ave Maria by Bulgarian-born soprano Raina Kabaivanska, also a resident of Modena who had worked with Pavarotti.It began with a moving rendition of Verdi's Ave Maria by Bulgarian-born soprano Raina Kabaivanska, also a resident of Modena who had worked with Pavarotti.
It was followed by a tribute to Pavarotti from Archbishop Cocchi. "The death of Pavarotti has made us feel poorer," he said.It was followed by a tribute to Pavarotti from Archbishop Cocchi. "The death of Pavarotti has made us feel poorer," he said.
Blind Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also performed, singing Panis Angelicus, a hymn performed at the cathedral by Pavarotti with his father Fernando in 1978. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also performed, singing Panis Angelicus, a hymn performed at the cathedral by Pavarotti with his father Fernando in 1978.
Pavarotti's white maple casket, covered in his favourite sunflowers lay before the altar, with his wife Nicoletta Mantovani, looking on. Sitting nearby were Pavarotti's three daughters from his first marriage.Pavarotti's white maple casket, covered in his favourite sunflowers lay before the altar, with his wife Nicoletta Mantovani, looking on. Sitting nearby were Pavarotti's three daughters from his first marriage.
U2's Bono and his wife Ali Hewson were among the guests class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6985148.stm">In pictures: Pavarotti funeral
Pavarotti's family expressed a desire for a private ceremony, but with the attendance of fans, celebrities and politicians, it took on the look and feel of a state event.Pavarotti's family expressed a desire for a private ceremony, but with the attendance of fans, celebrities and politicians, it took on the look and feel of a state event.
Also at the funeral was the Italian film-maker Franco Zeffirelli and players from Italian football team Juventus, which Pavarotti supported.Also at the funeral was the Italian film-maker Franco Zeffirelli and players from Italian football team Juventus, which Pavarotti supported.
The Italian and English football teams are to play Nessun Dorma before their respective Euro 2008 qualifying matches on Saturday - against France and Israel - as a mark of respect to the late singer.The Italian and English football teams are to play Nessun Dorma before their respective Euro 2008 qualifying matches on Saturday - against France and Israel - as a mark of respect to the late singer.
The Italian air force's Frecce Tricolori display team created the green, red and white of the country's flag when it passed over Modena cathedral as the tenor's coffin was brought out at the end of the service.The Italian air force's Frecce Tricolori display team created the green, red and white of the country's flag when it passed over Modena cathedral as the tenor's coffin was brought out at the end of the service.