On Thursday, world-renowned opera singer, Luciano Pavarotti died due to complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 71.

Pavarotti is remembered and recognized in the opera community as one of, if not the greatest, opera singer of all time.

In many circles, Pavarotti is responsible for the resurgence of opera into mainstream music. Beginning in the 70s and still very prolific today, Pavarotti’s musical career has revolutionized the undeniable success of classical music.

He not only had the first number one classical album to top the charts, but along with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, collectively known as The Three Tenors, he holds the esteemed honor of the best-selling classical album of all time in the 1994 release, “The Three Tenors In Concert.”

Even those who did not follow classical or opera music had an awareness of the sheer talent and passion that Pavarotti’s voice embodied. Those who attended his concerts often left in tears due to the beauty and pristine quality of his incomparable voice.

Aside from his work with The Three Tenors, Pavarotti also ventured out to duetting with mainstream musicians. From Bono to Paul McCartney to Eric Clapton, the world’s greatest tenor has sung with them all.

Along with singing, the opera singer is also associated with his vast charity work. His annual “Pavarotti and Friends” concert held in Italy, raised money for Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia. His close humanitarian work with Princess Diana led to Pavarotti receiving the honor of being “The United Nations Messenger of Peace.”

Retiring from the stage in 2004, Pavarotti embarked on a concert tour that ended prematurely in 2006 due to his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

In a time where classical opera singing seemed all but dead, Luciano Pavarotti emerged and captured the world’s attention and hearts. Without Pavarotti’s influence and genius craft, opera as we know it today would be extinct.

It is accurate to say that the way opera has evolved into a global phenomenon would have never occurred if it wasn’t for the work of Luciano Pavarotti. His body of work has changed the face of the future of classical music.

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