Not Singing A Happy Tune

Tue., Dec. 15, 1998

Opera star Luciano Pavarotti has backed out of an appearance with the Deutsche Oper, his second cancellation of a Berlin concert since German authorities launched a tax-evasion probe. The famous tenor has canceled a Jan. 25 concert but promised to make it up, officials said Monday; he previously had canceled a New Year’s Eve appearance with the Berlin Philharmonic on advice from his lawyer. Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo also known for their joint performances as “The Three Tenors” and star soprano Montserrat Caballe were named as suspects last month for allegedly helping German concert promoter Matthias Hoffmann evade taxes. Hoffmann, who went on trial on fraud and tax-evasion charges in October, is accused of using unreported payments and shell companies in Ireland, London and elsewhere to evade almost $15 million in German taxes.

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Not Singing A Happy Tune

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