Pavarotti 'extends hospital stay'

Pavarotti has been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer

Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti has chosen to spend a few more days resting in hospital, despite been given the all-clear to leave by doctors.

The tenor's wife, Nicoletta Mantovani, said the 71-year-old felt more tranquil at the hospital in his hometown Modena, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

On Tuesday, manager Terri Robson said the singer would be leaving Modena University Policlinico "imminently".

Pavarotti was admitted to the hospital on 8 August with a fever.

The tenor is in "wonderfully high spirits", said Robson, who visited him on Monday. She dismissed reports in the Italian media that he had pneumonia.

"He is looking forward to getting back to teaching his young singing pupils as soon as he is out," Robson told the Associated Press news agency.

"Next month, he plans to get back into his Modena recording studio to resume work on his new album of sacred songs."

Ill health

Since making his debut in Italy in 1961, Pavarotti has become one of the world's most widely-recognised opera performers.

But in recent years, the singer has been plagued by ill health.

In March 2005, he had neck surgery to repair two vertebrae, while a bout of laryngitis forced him to cancel an appearance at a Three Tenors concert in Mexico last June.

He had surgery to remove a pancreatic tumour at a New York hospital in July 2006.

At the time of the operation, Pavarotti had been preparing to resume his farewell tour. He has made no public appearances since then.