[Deathwatch] Fernando Pavarotti, baker / singer, 89

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Pavarotti's Opera-Singing Father Dies 
Fri May 24, 8:00 AM ET 

MILAN (Reuters) - Luciano Pavarotti (news - web sites)'s father died on
Friday at the age of 89, less than five months after the famous tenor
lost his mother, Pavarotti's spokeswoman said. 

Fernando Pavarotti, a baker turned singer, died in hospital in the
northern Italian city of Modena, where the family has its home. His
funeral was set for Sunday. 

"The doctors were expecting it. His health had deteriorated rapidly,"
the spokeswoman said. Pavarotti senior had been taken to hospital last
week. 

Luciano, 67, is due to hold a "Pavarotti and Friends" concert in Modena
on May 28 to raise money to help children in Angola. The spokeswoman
said she did not expect the rotund tenor to change his schedule. 

Pavarotti's mother, Adele, died in January at the age of 86. The
following night he went on stage at London's Royal Opera House and
dedicated his performance to her. 

The career of Pavarotti, widely credited with bringing opera to the
masses via the first "Three Tenors" concert at the 1990 soccer World
Cup, has recently come under a cloud. He canceled two New York
performances at short notice this month due to ill health.