Music world mourns Pavarotti's death

MODENA, Italy, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- British pop star Elton John declared Thursday "a sad day for music and a sad day for the world" because Luciano Pavarotti has died in Italy at the age of 71.

He isn't the only one who seems to think so.

"I always admired the God-given glory of his voice," said Placido Domingo, who along with Pavarotti and Jose Carreras toured as "The Three Tenors."

Domingo also told the BBC he "loved his wonderful sense of humor," recalling how the trio sometimes "had trouble remembering we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun ourselves."

Carreras described Pavarotti as "one of the most important tenors of all time."

"We have to remember him as the great artist that he was, the man with such a wonderful charismatic personality -- a very good friend and a great poker player," Carreras said to the BBC.

"The whole world will be listening today to his voice on every radio and television station. And that will continue. And that is his legacy. He will never stop," said conductor Zubin Mehta.

"The world is a smaller place without him," rock star Sting told the BBC.