Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti, known as the King of High Cs in his heyday, died on Thursday at the age of 71.

Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and had surgery in July 2006 at a New York hospital to remove a pancreatic tumour. He cancelled all remaining concerts for his Worldwide Farewell Tour and since then had not made any public appearances.

The tenor underwent another two weeks of treatment last month, and was released from hospital in his hometown of Modena, Italy on Aug. 25. He was being attended to at home by cancer specialists up until his death at 5 a.m. local time.

"The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life," his manager Terri Robson told The Associated Press in a statement. "In fitting with the approach that characterised his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."

Pavarotti's death comes the day after he received a new government award for his work in promoting Italian culture in Italy and abroad.

He became the first recipient of the Excellence in Italian Culture Award, the Italian Culture Ministry said in a statement Tuesday evening.

Milan's famous La Scala opera house, where Pavarotti first performed more than 40 years ago, said it would help organize a singing contest dedicated to the tenor.

"It is a precious chance to pay homage to the career of Luciano Pavarotti, a symbol of Italian music in the world," La Scala said in a statement.

Pancreatic cancer is usually fatal, with only a 4 per cent survival rate five years after detection. Up to 80 per cent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within the first year.

Considered one of the greatest operatic tenors of his generation, Pavarotti's voice, in his prime, was described as one of the most beautiful since that of late great Swedish singer Jussi Bjoerling, who died in 1960.

But Pavarotti wasn't happy just singing at La Scala or the Met. He shared the stage with rock stars including Eric Clapton and U2's lead singer Bono, and even pop stars like the Spice Girls and Celine Dion.

While his participation in the "Three Tenors" -- with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras -- drew criticism from opera purists, the venture was hugely successful and was credited with bringing classical music to the masses in a way that had never before been done.

Each singer netted more than US$1 million from each concert, and their first album together sold some 20 million copies, making it the biggest-selling classical record of all time.

"The word commercial is exactly what we want," said Pavarotti after one of the Three Tenors concerts.

"We've reached 1.5 billion people with opera. If you want to use the word commercial, or something more derogatory, we don't care. Use whatever you want."

Pavarotti was also involved in charitable work. As a close friend of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, together they raised money to ban land mines worldwide.

He and Bono collected humanitarian aid during the Bosnia war, and he financed and established the Pavarotti Music Center in the Bosnian city of Mostar so the country's artists could have a chance to develop their skills.

A controversial tell-all biography written by Pavarotti's former agent paints him as an enormously talented, but extraordinarily needy, artist.

In "The King and I," Herbert Breslin recounts his growing disappointment with Pavarotti as the singer's career, personal life and girth began to get out of control.

Breslin wrote about Pavarotti's numerous "secretaries" -- who would cater to his every need while his then wife, Adua, sat and suffered at home in Modena.

Accusations of tax evasion dogged the singer since the mid 1990s. He was accused in 1996 of filing false tax returns for 1989-91. In 2000 he agreed to pay nearly US$12 million to the Italian state after he claimed, unsuccessfully, that the tax haven of Monte Carlo, not Italy, was his official residence.

Pavarotti denied any wrongdoing, saying he paid taxes wherever he performed. Upon agreeing to the settlement, he stated: "I cannot live being thought not a good person."

Pavarotti was born Oct. 12, 1935, in Modena. The son of a baker and amateur singer, he said that in spite of his meagre upbringing that his life was rich with happiness.

"Our family had very little, but I couldn't imagine one could have any more," Pavarotti said.

He wanted to be a soccer star rather than a singer as a young boy, but found himself enjoying listening to his father's recordings of tenor greats such as Bjoerling, Tito Schipa, and his favourite, Giuseppe Di Stefano.

He studied singing together with childhood friend Mirella Freni -- who eventually became a star soprano. The two ended up making records and performing in concerts together.

It was at the age of 20 when Pavarotti travelled with a chorus from his hometown to an international music competition in Wales. The group won first place, and from then on, Pavarotti dedicated his life to music.

Faced with speculation in July that Pavarotti was close to death, his second wife Nicoletta Mantovani told Italian newspaper La Stampa: "He's fighting like a lion and he has never lost his heart."

Pavarotti had three daughters with his first wife, Lorenza, and one with his second wife.

With a report from The Associated Press