Legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti is recovering in hospital after having surgery for pancreatic cancer.

The farewell tour that he was set to commence this week has been pushed back until 2007.

Last week, the 70-year-old Italian singer was in New York preparing for the tour when routine medical tests landed him in the hospital.

“Mr. Pavarotti underwent a diagnostic evaluation and a malignant pancreatic mass was identified,” said his manager, Terri Robson. “Fortunately, the mass was able to be completely removed at surgery.”

Robson added that Pavarotti will remain under the care of doctors in New York and be treated over the coming months.

Several dates on his farewell tour have already been cancelled this year after other medical setbacks, including back problems.

Concerts affected by this latest set of cancellations include four Canadian dates: October 14 in Calgary, October 18 in Vancouver, October 22 in Montreal and October 25 in Toronto. Rescheduled dates have not been confirmed.






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