Mother of Luciano Pavarotti Dies at 86<br>ROME
(Reuters) - The mother of Luciano Pavarotti, the world's
most famous tenor, died on Thursday at the age of 86,
a spokeswoman for the singer said.<br><br>Adele
Venturi Pavarotti died in the northern Italian city of
Modena, the spokeswoman said. She had been ill for some
time.<br><br>Luciano Pavarotti, who is to make a long-awaited return
to London's Royal Opera House on Friday, immediately
chartered a private plane and returned to
Modena.<br><br>But he promised he would fly back to London for his
appearance in Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca."<br><br>A
spokeswoman for the singer in London told Reuters: "He has
spoken to his father who said his mother would
definitely have wanted him not to <br>cancel.<br><br>"On
being told the news, Luciano Pavarotti returned
immediately to Modena to be with his father Fernando, his
sister, daughters and family.<br><br>"He and his partner,
Dr. Nicoletta Mantovani, will return to London late
this evening and the maestro will dedicate his
performance tomorrow to the memory of Adele
Pavarotti."<br><br>She was one of the prime movers behind Pavarotti's
decision to embark on a singing career.<br><br>With full
opera appearances increasingly rare and mobility
impaired by his large frame and hip and knee replacements,
Pavarotti's four-night run in "Tosca" sold out virtually
overnight.<br><br>It has been seven years since he appeared at Covent
Garden, and British fans do not want to miss an outing
which is more about catching a glimpse of Pavarotti
than Puccini -- many have paid $250 for the privilege.