Pavarotti attends mother's funeral

MODENA, Italy -- A tearful Luciano Pavarotti has led hundreds of mourners at the funeral of his mother in the northern Italian city of Modena.

Adele Venturi died on Thursday at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness. Her funeral was held at Modena's San Faustino church on Sunday.

Overcome by emotion, Pavarotti several time consoled his father, who sat with the tenor's sister and three children in the front row.

Pavarotti's sister Gabriella, the only member of the family to speak, said their mother had "left a great heritage, respect for the nature of music."

"As it is difficult to speak with you at this moment, we have asked for the help of music which you always taught us to love," Gabriella said.

Pavarotti flew in from London for the funeral after an emotional return to the Royal Opera House.

He said the last thing his mother would have wanted was for him to cancel.

His performance there on Friday, a day after his mother's death, saw him dedicate a rare performance as Mario Cavaradossi in Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca" to her.

She was one of the prime movers behind Pavarotti's decision to embark on a singing career which has seen him become the world's most famous tenor.

The singer's personal tragedy added drama to the performance amid speculation that the four-night run could be his last outing at the opera house he sees as his spiritual home.

"I spent a wonderful and beautiful evening at Covent Garden that will remain in my memory for many years to come," he told Reuters afterwards.

"All performances at this opera house are very special for me and any singer, but to me of course tonight was an evening of very mixed emotions."