Top tenors pay homage to Corelli

Italian singer Andrea Bocelli was among hundreds of mourners paying homage Friday to tenor Franco Corelli, one of the top opera stars of the 20th century, at his funeral in a Milan church.

Corelli, whose career took him from La Scala to New York’s Metropolitan Opera and other major stages, died Wednesday in a Milan hospital at age 82. He was hospitalized in August for what was believed to be a stroke.

The funeral in San Carlo Church in downtown Milan drew a crowd of at least 350 people, mainly opera buffs who admired Corelli’s voice.

Colleagues have praised Corelli as one of the best tenors of his time. Fellow opera great Luciano Pavarotti described Corelli earlier this week as “a sensational, wonderful, beautiful tenor-maestro.” Tenor Placido Domingo said Corelli “was the most impressive tenor I have heard live.”