Liza fights pain to partner Pavarotti

Liza Minnelli has broken her right kneecap in a fall at an Italian hotel – but she is determined not to break her appointment to sing at a benefit concert with legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti tomorrow night.

Hollywood star Minnelli, 58, who was taken to a hospital near the hotel in Bologna, will have to wear a full-leg cast for about four weeks, her Los Angeles publicist Warren Cowan said.

“Even though she won’t be able to rehearse, she is going to perform on Tuesday night with Pavarotti, even wearing the cast,” he said.

Minnelli is to sing the signature tune, New York, New York, in a duet with Pavarotti at a his annual Pavarotti and Friends, benefit in his home town of Modena, Italy.

Minnelli tripped yesterday in the hallway of Hotel Grand Baglioni as she walked from her suite to the lift, Cowan said.

Her husband-producer David Gest ran to her when she let out a scream.

He called paramedics and Minnelli was admitted to Instituto Rizzoli hospital.

Gest called in four specialists who worked on Minnelli’s injury for three hours.

Minnelli and Gest were on their way to meet friends for dinner when she fell, Cowan said.