Pavarotti admitted to hospital following bout of fever

LUCIANO Pavarotti has been hospitalised in stable condition with a fever in his home town of Modena, in northern Italy, officials and his manager said yesterday.

The 71-year-old tenor, who underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer last year, was brought to Modena’s Polyclinic on Wednesday and is being kept under observation. Doctors were expected to release him in the coming days, according to separate statements from the hospital and his manager, Terri Robson.

Pavarotti was holidaying at his holiday home in Pesaro, an Adriatic seaside resort 200km south-east of Modena, when his doctor noticed he had a fever and decided to admit him to the hospital for tests, said Mr Robson.

“He remains under observation and his condition is now stable,” she said. “It is expected that the doctors will release him from hospital in the next few days.”

The local daily Il Resto del Carlino reported on its website that Pavarotti had pneumonia.

Pavarotti had been preparing to leave New York in July 2006 to resume a farewell tour when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic mass, Mr Robson said at the time. The tenor underwent surgery in New York, and his remaining concerts were cancelled.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous forms of the disease, although doctors said the surgery offered improved hopes for survival.

Pavarotti’s wife said in a newspaper interview last month that he was reacting well to radiation therapy.

“He’s fighting like a lion and he has never lost his heart” said Nicoletta Mantovani.