Pavarotti announces worldwide farewell tour

New York (ap) — Luciano Pavarotti, 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.

Pavarotti, who recently turned 69, has sold more than 100 million albums in his career and has done much to popularize classical music and opera