Mourners bid farewell to Pavarotti before funeral
MODENA, Italy (Reuters) – Thousands of mourners filed past the open coffin of Luciano Pavarotti in the cathedral of his Italian home town on Friday, in an emotional farewell to the singer whose death prompted tributes from around the world.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano joined the crowds in Modena’s ancient cathedral where fans were allowed a last look at one of the greatest tenors in opera’s history.
“I wanted to personally represent the emotion and the gratitude of Italians … towards someone who took with him everywhere the purest voice and the purest image of our country,” he told reporters.
The imposing, bearded opera star, who died of cancer on Thursday at the age of 71, was dressed in a black tuxedo, hands folded on his stomach and holding a rosary and a white handkerchief — a favorite prop during his recitals.
Mourners included his second wife, Nicoletta Mantovani, who had their four-year-old daughter Alice in her arms, and his first wife, Adua Veroni, with two of his three daughters from that marriage, all in their 40s.
As admirers waited patiently in the long queue winding across the square in front of the cathedral, Pavarotti’s singing could be heard from a recording played by loudspeakers.
At a nearby music store, his music was selling out. “Since yesterday it has been crazy,” said store manager Giovanni Ricci.
Condolences came from everywhere, with U.S. President George W. Bush and Russia’s Vladimir Putin joining opera singers Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras in praising Pavarotti.
“He brought to the world everything that is good about this town: simplicity, honesty and happiness,” said Luigi Febbrano, a 51-year-old court clerk standing in line.
BONO AND BOCELLI
“The world at your feet,” read the headline in a local paper in Modena, where Pavarotti was born into a humble family — his father a baker, his mother a cigar factory worker — and which he never forgot despite his stardom.
His gilded voice and huge personality touched millions around the world, and he achieved superstardom at the celebrated “Three Tenors” concert with Domingo and Carreras in Rome during the 1990 soccer World Cup in Italy.
“Nessun Dorma” will be played ahead of Euro 2008 soccer matches by the Italian and English national teams on Saturday.
Pavarotti had surgery for cancer in New York in July 2006, then retreated to Modena where he had two weeks of treatment in hospital last month before going home for the last time.
He spent his final hours at home with family and friends by his side, said his manager Terri Robson.
Although his family wants a private funeral, celebrity friends and fans are expected from around the world.
U2 frontman Bono, one of several rock stars to have performed with Pavarotti, confirmed he would attend.
Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is also expected, city officials said.
Blind Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will sing in the church service which is scheduled for 3 p.m. (9:00 a.m. EDT) on Saturday.
Bulgarian opera singer Raina Kabaivanska, who shared the stage with Pavarotti more than 20 years ago, will also sing.
Pavarotti’s voice may also ring out at the funeral, local media reported, saying organizers were considering playing a recording of him singing the hymn “Panis Angelicus” (“bread of angels”) with his father.
“People say his father sang better than he did, but he only sang at weddings,” said Piero Ronchi, from whose pastry shop Pavarotti ordered cakes when he played cards with old friends.
The tenor will be laid to rest at the Montale Rangone cemetery near his villa outside of town, where his parents and his stillborn son Riccardo are buried.
The atmosphere was somber at the cathedral as mourners of all ages passed slowly by the coffin, some stopping to kneel in the pews to pray, others signing memorial books outside.
Beside the books was a framed black-and-white picture of a smiling Pavarotti to remind them of his bonhomie and legendary fondness for the good things in life.
“I hope St. Peter welcomes you with a chunk of parmesan and a bottle of Lambrusco, ice-cold as you like it,” said Pavarotti’s friend, Italian rock singer Zucchero.
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