Outpouring Of Tributes To Pavarotti

Public Viewing Of Opera Great's Body Begins At Cathedral In His Hometown

(CBS/AP)  Hundreds of people gathered Thursday night in Modena's main piazza to pay final respects to Luciano Pavarotti, whose vibrant high Cs and ebullient showmanship made him one of the most famous singers in the world.

The crowd applauded in a sign of respect as pallbearers carried the casket into Modena's cathedral, where the funeral is to be held on Saturday.

Pavarotti died early Thursday at the age of 71.

CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports Pavarotti had pancreatic cancer, one of the most virulent and deadly forms of cancer, which killed him within a year of diagnosis.

While Pavarotti moved the world with what one admirer called "the last great voice" of Italian opera, his legacy extends far beyond the opera house. The tenor collaborated with classical singers and pop icons alike to bring opera to the masses and in the process, rescued the art from highbrow obscurity.

In many ways, Pavarotti fulfilled the public's imagination of what an opera star should be. He often wore a colorful scarf and a hat, be it a fedora or a beret, and while he didn't always have a beard, it was hard to imagine him without it.

His heft - as well as a restaurant on his property in Modena - underlined his gourmet appetite. But above all, his crystal-clear voice, prized for its diction, made him the most celebrated tenor since Caruso.

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Photos: Pavarotti In Pictures

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"Pavarotti was the last great Italian voice able to move the world," said Bruno Cagli, president of the Santa Cecilia National Academy in Rome.

The world is paying tribute. Inside Modena's Piazza Grande, hundreds of people gathered for the beginning of the public viewing, which is to continue, except for a few overnight hours, until just before the funeral.

2Police on horseback stood at attention Thursday night as the first mourners shuffled up the steps into the cathedral.

Italian Premier Romano Prodi is among the many dignitaries expected at attend Saturday's funeral. The ANSA news agency says tenor Andrea Bocelli will be at the funeral and is to sing the hymn "Panis Angelicus."

But many ordinary fans - some of whom have been weeping outside Pavarotti's home and in the street next to the cathedral - are also expected to be on hand. Authorities, preparing for large crowds, are stationing giant television screens near the church and have set up additional public transportation to shuttle mourners in and out of the city center for Saturday's service.

[cmp271]

Pavarotti did alot to bring opera into the mainstream of music. His Three Tenor tours and the films of them are still wonderful to see and always will be. The three of them seemed to have so much fun singing together, three men with such fabulous voices, enjoying each other as much as the audience.

Pavarotti did bring opera out of the "dark ages" and released it to everyone, not just those who could afford tickets to shows.

He is a true loss. He was a wonderful man, you can tell just by hearing the love in his voice in the songs he sang.

Thank you for giving the world joy. And music.

[edamos54]

I was never an opera fan, but always a
Pavarotti fan. We may not see another one like
him. I pray that he is in a better place now.
I lift up his family in prayer at this very sad
time in their lives. His loss is immense.

[drinuk]

To all those New York Critics who thought they were being so clever when writing such unkind and cruel comments about this wonderful gentleman.... He is now comfortable in a place where You will never have the grace or humanity to belong.

God Bless this beautiful man.

[commentsrus]

There will never be another like him.

An era has past.

[tnt1954]

its quite a different story than a hoarse opera.
you must know many languages. the making
of an operatic star is most long, arduous
and difficult. beverly sills et al. the
business side of opera is most difficult
still. some of the audience are such
aficianados, they know every note. in europe
for 7 months in 1967, 40 yrs. ago, i heard
many operas, saw plays, museums, monuments,
churches, all on five dollars a day. my favorite
place to stay was the nunnery near the spanish
steps in rome. the vatican library could
be gone through for centuries. amazing. the
spirit of pavarotti lives on. though our
sins be scarlet they be as white as snow.
what will st. peter say at the gate? suspense,
at a place, beyond the end of forever.

[barbaraf4]

His death is such a loss. God Bless.

[nothappyatall]

Another great one falls :(

"From the world of music, tenor Andrea Bocelli was to attend and planned to sing the hymn "Panis Angelicus" at the service,"

Andrea is excellent, he is blind as well, find some youtube clips of Andrea with Sarah Brightman in "Time to say goodbye" and be prepared to be MOVED.