Pavarotti scores posthumous hit

Since the death of world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti last Thursday (September 6), downloads of his signature song ‘Nessun Dorma’ have soared, sending it to Number 24 in the UK singles chart.

The song was a new entry on Sunday's (September 10) chart, four days after the opera singer passed away.

'Nessun Dorma' was Pavarotti’s most famous song, and was used as the BBC theme tune to the 1990 World Cup.

Chart expert, HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo described the chart entry as a “fitting tribute to Pavarotti’s genius”.

He added there was now a chance the track could top the charts.

"It really would be wonderful if 'Nessun Dorma' could become the first classical piece of music to ever make it to the top of the official singles chart," he explained.

In 1990 the track peaked at Number Two.