Pavarotti won’t appear after all

Opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti will not attend a concert in Italy today that would have marked his first appearance since a cancer operation four months ago, prompting Italian media to speculate about his health.

The 71-year-old Pavarotti had been billed to appear, although not sing, at a theater in Bergamo where he was to be given an award named after Gaetano Donizetti, the 19th century composer born in the northern Italian city.

Italian media speculated that his decision was due to continuing health problems. But his London-based manager, Terri Robson, said the singer “recently completed his medical treatment and couldn’t be happier with his results and progress.” She said his first public appearance since undergoing surgery would be at an as-yet undisclosed charity event next year.