Heaven's angel's choir has just acquired a tenor.

Luciano Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him one of the world's most beloved tenors, has died, his manager told The Associated Press. He was 71.

His manager, Terri Robson, told the AP in an e-mail statement that Pavarotti died at his home in Modena, Italy, at 5 a.m. local time. Pavarotti had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and underwent further treatment in August.

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

Sigh.  I never have been a big fan of opera.  I love classical music, but somehow I never "got" opera.  Maybe I just never saw the right opera…rather, maybe I never experienced the right opera, for they say opera must be felt, not heard.

But I don't have to love the musical medium to appreciate a God gifted talent. 

In all of opera, there was only one Pavarotti. He was not just a singer.  He was music.

RIP Maestro.

Enjoy this clip of him singing Ave Maria or go below to hear him sing with Queen in 2003.