Key dates in opera star Luciano Pavarotti’s life: 1935, Oct. 12: Pavarotti born in Modena, Italy. 1961: Wins a local competition and with it a debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s “La Boheme,” in Reggio Emilia, a city not far from his native town. Marries Adua Veroni, with whom he will have three daughters. 1963: Appears at Covent Garden in London, where he stands in for tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano as Rodolfo. 1965: Appears at La Scala theater in Milan. 1968: Appears at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House and in San Francisco. 1981: Takes part in film “Yes Giorgio.” 1982: Takes part in film “Rigoletto.” First sings in “Aida” for the San Francisco Opera. 1986: Travels to China. 1987: Sings for the first time in Buenos Aires. 1988: His recording of “Volare” goes platinum. 1989: Debuts as director in “La Favorita.” 1990: Performs in Hyde Park, London, to celebrate 30 years of his career. Performs with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, on the final weekend of the World Cup. The trio was dubbed “The Three Tenors,” and they sang together at three more World Cup finals. 1993: Recording of the “Pavarotti & Friends” charity concert in Modena featuring Sting, Lucio Dalla and Zucchero. 1994: Tours Asia. 1995: Patrons “Pavarotti International” for Bosnia, tours South America. 1996: Is accused of filing false tax returns for 1989-91. 1997: Performs in Moscow’s Red Square. 2000: Agrees to pay roughly $12 million to the Italian state after he had unsuccessfully claimed that the tax haven of Monte Carlo rather than Italy was his official residence. 2003, December: Marries his longtime companion, Nicoletta Mantovani. 2004, March: Gives his final performance in staged opera at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House and announces that he will begin a 40-date farewell tour around the world. 2005, September: Receives a medieval British honor in recognition of his fundraising and humanitarian work with the Red Cross. 2006, February: Performs “Nessun Dorma,” from Puccini’s “Turandot” at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Is declared honorary citizen by Sarajevo’s authorities because of his support for Bosnia during the 1992-95 war. 2006, July: Doctors discover a malignant pancreatic mass as Pavarotti is preparing to leave New York to resume a farewell tour. He has surgery. August: Undergoes further treatment at a hospital in Modena. — The Associated Press | 
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