Pavarotti is admitted to hospital

Hospital spokesman Alberto Greco confirmed the 71-year-old tenor had been admitted, but declined to comment on his treatment.

A spokesman said the star was admitted with a fever, and could "be released in the next few days".

Pavarotti pulled out of several concerts last year after undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer.

A local newspaper reported that Pavarotti was diagnosed with pneumonia while on holiday with his family at a resort on the Adriatic seaside.

A spokesman for the Modena University Policlinico in northern Italy said Pavarotti was admitted on Wednesday - although earlier reports suggested he had entered the facility on Tuesday.

"He is currently under observation and his condition is satisfactory," said Gabriele Sorrentino.

New material

In June, Pavarotti's manager Terri Robson said the singer was busy recording a new album, adding that the collection of classical religious music would be released early next year.

In recent years he has been plagued with bad 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 in June last year.

He also had back surgery and contracted an infection while in hospital, which forced him to cancel further concert dates.

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