Pavarotti to marry longtime companion in star-studded wedding

<br>ROME (AP) _ Opera star Luciano Pavarotti will marry longtime partner Nicoletta Mantovani in the tenor's hometown on Saturday before celebrities including Bono and fashion designer Donatella Versace.

Friday, December 12th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ROME (AP) _ Opera star Luciano Pavarotti will marry longtime partner Nicoletta Mantovani in the tenor's hometown on Saturday before celebrities including Bono and fashion designer Donatella Versace.

Pavarotti and Mantovani, 34, have been living together since 1996, when their love story took gossip columns by storm. The marriage will take place in the Teatro Comunale in Modena.

Guests will include singers Bono and Sting, Versace and fellow designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, and soccer star Alessandro Del Piero, Pavarotti's publicists said.

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, a London-based gospel choir, and children's choir from Modena will perform at the ceremony.

Giorgio Armani is providing the wedding gowns for Mantovani and the couple's year-old daughter Alice.

Pavarotti, 68, has three children from his marriage to Adua Veroni, who managed his multimillion-dollar business affairs.