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Opera was not the 20th century's surest route to superstardom. But it was if you sang like Luciano Pavarotti.

Pavarotti, the literally and figuratively larger-than-life tenor whose recordings sold more than 100 million albums, and whose voice boomed everywhere from the Metropolitan Opera to Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, died at 5 a.m. Thursday morning, local time, at his home in Modena, Italy, after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71.

Dubbed the King of High C's, for the showiest chandelier-shaking note in his repertoire, Pavarotti was hospitalized last month. Earlier Wednesday it was reported that his condition had taken a turn for the worse.

July 05, 2007 01:00am

LUCIANO Pavarotti believes he is nearing the end of his life.

The 71-year-old tenor's battle with pancreatic cancer has taken its toll, according to his daughter, Giuliana.

"He knows he's going to die soon and often speaks of his greatest desire to meet his parents again and finally find peace," she said.

Pavarotti has not been seen in public since it was announced last July he was battling cancer.

At the time, he was due to embark on a four-month global farewell tour.