Life of Guangzhou - Cancer-stricken Pavarotti 'Under Observation' in Hospital

ROME: Star tenor Luciano Pavarotti, suffering from cancer, was admitted to hospital with a fever and is "under observation", the Modena University Policlinico in northern Italy said on Thursday.

Pavarotti, 71, was admitted late Wednesday "because of a fever", the hospital in the tenor's hometown said in a statement. "He is currently under observation and his condition is satisfactory."

The opera star "can be released within the next few days", the statement said.

Pavarotti underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer a year ago and has since had at least five rounds of chemotherapy.

Hospital spokesman Gabriele Sorrentino had told AFP earlier that he had been admitted on Tuesday.

A local newspaper, Il Resto del Carlino, cited unnamed sources as saying that Pavarotti had pneumonia.

He had been holidaying at his villa in Pesaro on the Adriatric coast some 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Modena.

When he had surgery last year and cancelled subsequent concerts, Pavarotti sparked fears that he may never sing in public again.

But Pavarotti's wife Nicoletta Mantovani said a month ago that he planned to continue his singing career and was bringing out a new CD of sacred music soon, adding that he was thinking of resuming his cancelled concert tour.