Roma, 09/08 - The funeral service of opera singer Luciano Pavarotti is to take place in his home town in northern Italy. The ceremony at Modena cathedral will be attended by the prime minister, and stars including U2`s Bono and tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.

The service, which is being screened live on Italian TV, will culminate in a fly-past by the country`s air force.

, who died on Thursday aged 71, will be laid to rest in the cemetery close to his home in Modena.

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The singer will be buried in a private ceremony alongside members of his family, including his parents and stillborn son, Ricardo.

The funeral service, which is due to start at 1500 local time (1300 GMT), will be attended by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and conducted by the Vatican`s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Blind Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will sing Panis Angelicus, a hymn performed at the cathedral by Pavarotti with his father Fernando in 1978.

Pavarotti`s family expressed a desire for a private ceremony, but with the attendance of fans, celebrities and politicians, it will have the feel of a state occasion.

Thousands of people are expected to gather outside the cathedral for the funeral, the city`s authorities have said.

Players from Italian football team Juventus, which Pavarotti supported, have also said they will attend.

The Italian and English football teams are to play Nessun Dorma before their respective Euro 2008 qualifying matches on Saturday - against France and Israel - as a mark of respect to the late singer.

The Italian air force`s Frecce Tricolori display team will create the green, red and white of the country`s flag when it passes over Modena cathedral as the tenor`s coffin is brought out at the end of the service.

Thousands of mourners have been paying their respects to the singer, who has been lying in state since late on Thursday evening.

Pavarotti`s coffin had been carried into the cathedral by nine pall bearers, with his second wife Nicoletta Mantovani following behind.

There was loud applause from hundreds of people who had gathered in the square to show their appreciation.

- AngloaPress

Interview w/Pavarotti

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