Pavarotti's appeal extended beyond the world of opera. His famous partnership with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras in Three Tenors concerts brought his talents to countless audiences.

"I always admired the God-given glory of his voice -- that unmistakable special timbre from the bottom up to the very top of the tenor range," Domingo said in a statement from Los Angeles. "I also loved his wonderful sense of humor and on several occasions of our concerts with Jose Carreras . . . we had trouble remembering that we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun between ourselves."

From left: Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and Luciano Pavarotti at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 1994.