Pavarotti vows to sing despite mother's death

Luciano Pavarotti is due to go ahead with tonight’s performance of Tosca at London’s Royal Opera House despite the death of his mother in Italy yesterday.

The star tenor was in rehearsals for his performance of the Puccini opera yesterday when he heard the news that his mother Adele, 86, had died.

He immediately returned to Modena in northern Italy to be with his father, Fernando, his sister and his daughters.

But after speaking to his family, the star insisted he would return to London to sing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden this evening.

A spokeswoman for the maestro said his family had urged him to go ahead with his performance as it would have been what his elderly mother would have wanted.

She said he would dedicate his performance to the memory of Adele Pavarotti.

Pavarotti is due to give four performances of Tosca at the Royal Opera House on January 11, 15, 18 and 21.