Show goes on for grieving Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti went ahead with a performance of Tosca at London's Royal Opera House despite the death of his mother in Italy.

The star tenor had been in rehearsals for his performance of the Puccini opera 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 the family, he insisted he would return to London to sing.

House manager Mrs Nicki Spencer said: "He arrived at the stage door at about 6.30pm, an hour before curtain-up."

"People coming out at the interval have said he is in good voice. We all offer our deep condolences to him but we are pleased that he decided to come and sing at the Opera House tonight."

A spokeswoman for the maestro said the family had urged him to go ahead with his performance as it would have been what his mother would have wanted. She said he would dedicate the performance to his mother's memory.

Pavarotti is due to give three more performances of Tosca at the Royal Opera House, on January 15, 18 and 21. Mrs Spencer said he had given no indication that he would not perform.