Home town mourns singer Pavarotti

Mourners queue to view Pavarotti's coffin in Modena cathedral

Thousands of mourners have been filing past the open coffin of tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who is lying in state in the cathedral of his home town of Modena.

The singer's body, dressed in a black tuxedo, white tails and scarf, will remain in place until his funeral on Saturday in the northern Italian city.

Well-wishers warmly applauded as nine pall bearers carried Pavarotti's white coffin into the cathedral.

The singer died on Thursday aged 71. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

Outpouring of grief

His coffin is draped in a red veil embroidered with a treble clef and surrounded by flowers.

It is estimated to have been viewed by 9,000 people since 0000 local time (2200 GMT) on Thursday night, according to the Associated Press.

The BBC's Christian Fraser in Modena says that a steady stream of people have been coming to pay their respects.

The opera star's white casket was carried by nine pall bearers

Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, wept and spoke to well-wishers as the casket was carried into the cathedral on Thursday evening.

One mourner, Simone Sarrau, who queued until midnight to pay his respects, said: "He's a symbol. He's a symbol of Modena, a symbol of Italy, he's international.

"I think his kind of affection is justified," the 32-year-old told AP.

"It's not just Modena - it's the whole world. He's a one-of-a-kind. There's only him, and there will always only be him," added Mr Sarrau.

Luigi Febbrano, a 51-year-old court clerk, added: "He brought to the world everything that is good about this town - simplicity, honesty and happiness."

State occasion

Local authorities are preparing for an outpouring of grief during the funeral on Saturday afternoon.

The family have expressed a wish for a solemn service, but the funeral is shaping up to be an important occasion state occasion, with the attendance of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Well-wishers have been signing books of condolence

U2 frontman Bono plus tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras are among the celebrities who have already confirmed they will be at the service.

Blind opera star Andrea Bocelli will sing Panis Angelicus during the ceremony - a piece which was often performed by Pavarotti.

The funeral will be shown live on Italian television, while the country's airforce will stage a fly-past after the service.

Across the city, the flags are flying at half-mast and in the windows are signs which read "Adieu maestro".

Giant television screens are being set up near the cathedral and TV channels' satellites have been positioned in the square.

"Thanks to Luciano Pavarotti, the name of Modena has gone around the world as the name of a city much bigger than it actually is," mayor Giorgio Pighi told the Associated Press.