Pavarotti still hits the right note with excited fans

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI has lost none of his ability to leave his fans in awe of his talent - despite tickets for his Royal Opera House performances costing up to pounds 200.

Audiences said the 66-year-old was in sensational form during his Covent Garden performances, when - despite the recent death of his mother, Adele, 86, after a long illness - Pavarotti honoured his commitment to fulfil the last of a four-performance run of Puccini's Tosca last night.

Even the top-price tickets were snapped up within hours for the tenor's first appearance in London for four years.

Earlier this month Pavarotti played down speculation that he is to retire.

He said: "My boss is my voice - that, and the audience. It is these two things which will determine when I retire."

At the Royal Opera House, where Pavarotti first performed in 1963, the audience were left in no doubt about the voice of the operatic legend.

Michael Heseltine, who was accompanied by his wife Anne, said: "He was wonderful, great, as good as ever. I'm not that good an expert but he sounded marvellous to me." Mr Heseltine described the possibility of Pavarotti retiring as the "end of an age" and said he was "one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century".

Australian Linda Costamacbane said Pavarotti "sounds as good as 20 years ago". She added: "He's incredible for his age. You can't believe a human being could make that sound."

Lucy O'Connell, 25, from London, said the show was "fantastic"and she was glad she had seen Pavarotti before he retired.

She said: "He did sound good.

You sort of feel he wasn't in his prime but his voice certainly had a lot of depth to it and he still had a sparkle in his eye. I'm quite pleased I've seen him before he retires. Everyone has the right to retire gracefully."

Frances Parton, from Guildford, said she had been all around the world to watch Pavarotti and it was still a privilege to see him.

Asked if the tenor was as good as ever, she replied: "I think so.

The voice is deeper and broader.

He says he's going to retire but they never do, do they?"

Ulli Seiter, from Stuttgart in Germany, said he had seen Pavarotti perform in New York, Naples and Rome. But he was more than happy to spend pounds 200 on a ticket to see him at the Royal Opera House, saying: "I haven't had enough of it, so I may well go and see him again."

William Petter, 19, a student from Oxford, said: "He was absolutely stunning. There were signs that he is getting older. Once or twice there was a blip in his voice but he was still sensational. He must be the best I've heard."

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