Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti 's health has deteriorated sharply and the 71-year-old tenor is at home, unconscious and suffering from kidney failure, a television station reported today.
Family and friends are at Pavarotti 's home with the singer who is considered one of the greatest tenors of his generation, E' TV Antenna Uno television station in Modena, the tenor's home town, reported.
In July 2006 Pavarotti underwent surgery in New York for pancreatic cancer and retreated to his villa in Modena. He had to cancel his first planned public reappearance a few months later.
Taken to hospital with a fever last month, Pavarotti was released from hospital in Modena on Aug. 25 after undergoing more than two weeks of tests and treatment.
Italy's AGI news agency said cancer specialists were treating Pavarotti at home, and described his condition as "very serious".
One of Pavarotti 's friends contacted by Reuters said she had also heard the singer was in "serious" condition.
A spokesman at the Modena hospital declined to comment.