Photos taken on December 8, 2005, shows the Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti during a news conference in Beijing. Sept. 6 - Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti died early Thursday at the age of 71 in Modena, Italy, Xinhua News Agency said, citing the Italy news agency ANSA.Pavarotti, hailed as the greatest tenor of his generation, underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer last year and had been staying at his villa in Modena in north-central Italy.Pavarotti had been preparing to leave New York in July 2006 to resume a farewell tour when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic mass. He received surgery in a New York hospital, and was forced to cancel his remaining 2006 concerts.Pavarotti gave his last performance at the New York Metropolitan Opera on March 13, 2004.In February 2006, at the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Turin, he brought the house down with his trademark Nessun Dorma aria.