Pavarotti was sick of his own voice

Late opera star Luciano Pavarotti had grown tired of listening to his own music by the time of his death on Thursday, and preferred to hear the sounds of fellow tenor Placido Domingo more than anything else.

The Italian legend passed away aged 71 at his home in Modena, Italy, after battling pancreatic cancer since last year.

And although his illness meant he was no longer able to perform with his peers Domingo and Jose Carreras, the singers remained close friends right until the very end.

Speaking in his last ever interview, with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he said: "Despite my condition, the fellowship of the Three Tenors has not been dissolved. Placido Domingo has come to see me a couple of times. Jose Carreras phones me.

"We had a great run. But I don't listen to myself any longer. I don't want to hear myself. If you were to invite me to dinner and, in an effort to please me, you put on one of my old records, I'd turn on my heels. If you wanted me to stay, then you could play me Placido."