Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja has described singing legend Luciano Pavarotti as opera's biggest, irreplaceable superstar of all time.
"The man's life speaks for itself, so it's difficult to know what to say in moments like this," Mr Calleja told The Times.
Luciano Pavarotti, 71, died at his home in the northern Italian city of Modena early yesterday morning after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
The Italian tenor had cancer surgery in July 2006, five months after his last performance. He had not made any public appearances since.
He was admitted to hospital with fever on August 8 and was released two weeks later following tests.
Mr Calleja, hailed by some music critics as "the next Pavarotti", said: "He managed to popularise opera in a way no one else ever did. Confirmation of this came when he visited kids in remote parts of Africa - even they recognised him".
Although Mr Calleja featured on two CDs with the legend - they are both artistes with the Decca recording label - the two never met, primarily because Luciano Pavarotti has been unwell for some time.
"He was my first operatic idol after Mario Lanza, and he turned out to be my biggest. He is undoubtedly the most loved opera star and we will miss him a great deal."
Contacted in Ravenna, where Riccardo Muti flew on leaving Malta yesterday morning, the world-famous conductor described Luciano Pavarotti as one of the most "extraordinary" artistes of the last century.
"His voice was not only marvellous, but also strongly recognisable in that if you heard it in the street you would immediately understand that it was him! It was unmistakable!" Inundated by calls from the international media for his comments on the tenor's death, having often worked with him on several productions since 1969, Mro Muti recalled the tenor's "generosity when, in 1995, he travelled from New York to accompany me on the piano, completely free of charge, in aid of a community of youths in need".
He told The Times that "with Pavarotti disappears one of the most charismatic and generous figures of our times".
Tenor Paul Asciak said the opera world had lost one of the biggest singers of our generation.
"Pavarotti had an extensive career and made so many people happy. It was a pity he had to go this way since he still had a lot to offer," the 84-year-old Maltese tenor said.
Mr Asciak, who tutored Mr Calleja, objects to statements that the young Maltese tenor would now assume the role of Luciano Pavarotti.
"It's the media that creates these mottos. There will never be another Pavarotti like there never was another Caruso. Joseph is building his own name out of humility," said Mr Asciak.
Music reviewer and artist Kenneth Zammit Tabona recalled Luciano Pavarotti's voice, his superb presence and audacity to be unconventional.
"He brought opera to the streets and such people are unique. His powerful exclamatory, Vincerò (from Puccini's Nessun Dorma) is the operatic equivalent of Liverpool FC's You'll Never Walk Alone," he said. Luciano Pavarotti will be best remembered for performances with Placido Domingo and José Carerras in the Three Tenors concerts, which coincided with the football World Cup tournaments and were seen by around 1.5 billion people.
Sting, Bono, Zucchero, Stevie Wonder and Elton John were among the stars sharing the stage with the opera legend during his annual charity concert, Pavarotti and Friends.
Moments from Luciano Pavarotti's life in pictures.