ROME: The world remembers one of the best-loved vocalists.

One year after his death, concerts and programmes commemorating Luciano Pavarotti will be held across Italy and the world, from Saturday in the tenor’s hometown of Modena.

Two thousand tickets were given out as a gift from Pavarotti’s hometown for Requiem de Verdi on Saturday.

The free performance was staged in a theatre that the northern Italian City had dedicated to him, said Giorgio Pighi, mayor of Modena.

In addition the Italian culture minister and the famed Scala theatre in Milan have lent their support to a singing competition which will see 250 male and female participants from all over the world.

The finals will be held on October 3.

Over in Rome, the Vittoriano museum will unveil an exhibition in early September dedicated to the tenor whose trademark is his ‘high C’ note.

Outside Italy, the Requiem de Verdi will be performed at the Metropolitan in New York on September 18 before some 3,000 people.

In Paris, Parc Saint-Cloud will hold a memorial concert on September 13 while those who have duetted wth Pavarotti, including Elton John, Bono, Celine Dion and Sting, will take part in a charity concert in Jordon, dubbed “Pavarotti and Friends”.

“We have decided to donate all the proceeds from the concert to the United Nations, which Luciano passionately supported and represented with pride and a messenger of peace,” said Pavarotti’s 38-year-old widow Nicoletta Mantovani.

Pavarotti died of pancreatic caner at the age of 71 in Modena on September 6, 2007. Several thousand people attended his funeral two days later, including a display by the Italian air force’s acrobatic team.

- CNA/jk