Undated file picture showing celebrated Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti (L) with his partner, Nicoletta Mantovani. [AP]

Legendary opera star Luciano Pavarotti is getting married in December to his longtime companion, according to a report published Friday.

An Italian news agency said Pavarotti will marry Nicoletta Mantovani, with whom he has a baby daughter, on Dec. 13 in his hometown of Modena. His spokeswoman, Renata Meroni, confirmed that the tenor planned to marry within the next few months, but said she did not know of a fixed date.

The ANSA news agency said Pavarotti confirmed the December date during a telephone conversation.

"There's no particular reason we chose December 13 as the date for our marriage," Pavarotti was quoted as saying Friday, shortly after his return from the United States. "We chose it because that date works fine."

Mantovani gave birth to Pavarotti's daughter in January. The opera star and Mantovani have been living together since 1996, when their love story took gossip columns by storm.

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

The Gazzetta di Modena newspaper said Friday the marriage would take place at the Teatro Comunale in Modena, with about 500 guests.

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