Luciano Pavarotti, the world renowned tenor has died at his home in Modena, northern Italian aged just 71 years.
The larger than life operatic singer had been out of the public eye for a number of months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year.
Despite undergoing surgery in New York last July – five months after his last performance, the opera star had not made any public appearances and fears had been growing for the state of his health.
Following five courses of intense chemotherapy treatment, on 8 August the star was rushed to hospital suffering with a fever. He underwent a number of diagnostic tests before doctors released him two weeks later.
The singer was declared dead at 0500 local time on Thursday and in a statement to the press his Manager Terri Robson said: "The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life.
"In fitting with the approach that characterised his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."
Best known for his performances alongside fellow singers Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, as the Three Tenors, Pavarotti gained a reputation as a fiercely powerful and highly respected singer who has been credited with helping to bring a new audience to opera.
Pavarotti leaves behind his wife Nicoletta Mantovani and their daughter Alice as well as three daughters from his first marriage which ended in 1996.
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