महान ऑपेरा गायक लुचानो पावारोत्ती के अंतिम संस्कार की तैयारियाँ चल रही हैं. उनका गुरुवार को इटली में निधन हो गया था. दुनिया भर से कई जानी-मानी हस्तियाँ और राजनेता शनिवार को पावारोत्ती के गृह नज़र आएँगे. क्रिस्टियन फ़्रेज़र की रिपोर्ट.

रिपोर्ट सुनिए

Since late Thursday evening there's been a steady stream of people filing past Luciano Pavarotti's open casket. He's dressed in his traditional black tuxedo, his white scarf round his neck, the rosaries in his hand. Last night his second wife, Nicoletta, stood by the coffin as hundreds queued outside Modena cathedral for a last glimpse of their favourite tenor.

The family have asked for a solemn funeral, though in many ways it's taken the shape of a state funeral. The Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, has signalled his wish to attend and the Italian papers have speculated that the British royal family might also send a representative.

There will also be a long list of celebrities and musicians here. The line-up includes many of those with whom he shared the stage - Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Bono, Sting and Elton John among them. Pavarotti's great friend Andrea Bocelli will sing the Panis Angelicus which Pavarotti had sung with his father in this same cathedral many years ago. And the funeral will be shown live on Italian television - a screen in the cathedral square for the many thousands of people expected.

Christian Fraser, BBC News, Modena

आवाज़ सुनिए

a steady stream of people filing past
लगातार लोग आ रहे हैं

open casket
खुला हुआ ताबूत

tuxedo
पुरुषों के पहनने वाला जैकेट जो टाई के साथ पहनी जाती है

rosaries
जपने वाली माला

for a last glimpse
अंतिम दर्शन

solemn
गरिमामय, साधारण

taken the shape of
राजकीय अंतिम संस्कार की शक्ल ले ली है

signalled his wish to
इच्छा जताई है

speculated
अटकलें

shared the stage
एक मंच पर गाया