NEW YORK – Luciano Pavarotti (search), long a giant in the opera world, has signed a contract for a 40-date worldwide farewell tour.
Pavarotti, whose tenor voice has filled opera halls for more than four decades, will perform in countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
"This tour will be very emotional," the singer said in a statement to be released Thursday. "I am looking forward to traveling around the world, meeting many of my colleagues and friends I have made throughout my career, and performing for audiences for the last time."
The concerts will be produced by British producer Harvey Goldsmith. Dates are yet to be announced. Earlier this year, Pavarotti gave his final operatic performance at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
Pavarotti, who recently turned 69, has sold over 100 million albums in his career and has done much to popularize classical music and opera, including a tour with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras as "The Three Tenors" (search) and concerts in New York's Central Park and at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
"I have recently celebrated four decades of singing," he said. "I am a true fanatic of the tenor voice and extremely lucky to have been given the opportunity to experience one of the most amazing careers it is possible for an opera singer to have."
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