Pavarotti is seen with his wife Mantovani and daughter in this undated file photo. (Xinhua-Ansa Photo)

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BEIJING, Sept. 20 -- Luciano Pavarotti left half his estate to his second wife and half to his four daughters, including three from his first marriage, an attorney said Tuesday.

In the final months of his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer, Pavarotti made two wills, said attorney Giorgio Bernini, who represents the singer's second wife. One dated June 13 divides up his assets according to Italian law, with half going to his wife, Nicoletta Mantovani, and half to his children.

The second, dated July 29, elaborates on the first and concerns the tenor's U.S. holdings, which he entrusted to Mantovani, Bernini said.

Interest in Pavarotti's will has mounted in the days since his Sept. 6 death at age 71 amid reports that his three adult daughters from his first marriage were squabbling with Mantovani, and that there had been a "crisis" in their marriage.

"Luciano Pavarotti now has his chance to speak out and, contrary to media reports and rumors, he did not change his will to the detriment of his second wife," Pavarotti's manager, Terri Robson, said.

She called the reports, which quoted friends of the late tenor, "a very personal and ugly campaign against his wife."

Bernini said that according to the June 13 will, half of Pavarotti's estate will go to Mantovani, and half will go to the daughters, each of whom get an equal, one-quarter share.

"The Maestro's concern has always been not to treat his daughters differently," Bernini said.

Two of Pavarotti’s friends will get 693,350 U.S. dollars each "for their affection and loyal assistance," Italian news reports have identified the two as Pavarotti's assistant, Edwin Tinoco, and his companion Veronica Zeggio.

The lawyer declined to give details on the overall value of Pavarotti's estate. It also wasn't clear how Pavarotti's commercial interests, including royalties from sales of his music, have been handled.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/