Lower back pain forced the 70-year-old tenor to postpone numerous concerts on his farewell tour earlier this year, but doctors had said he would be fit to perform again in June. However, Terri Robson, Pavarotti's London-based manager, said in a statement that the singer had developed an infection during his hospital stay that delayed his recovery time. He is currently undergoing a course of intensive physiotherapy in New York.

The scheduled June concerts included performances in Montreal on June 3, Toronto on June 6, Calgary on June 11, Vancouver on June 16, and Washington, D.C., on June 21. All five concerts have been rescheduled for October.

Pavarotti's tour is expected to recommence in July in the U.K.

Robson said, "Luciano apologizes to his many disappointed fans for having to reschedule these concerts—happily, he is now well on his way to recovery and very much looks forward to continue celebrating his career with the Pavarotti worldwide farewell tour."

Pavarotti, who gave his final opera performance at the Metropolitan Opera in 2004, is in the midst of a worldwide concert tour. The tour was originally scheduled to end by his 70th birthday last October, but he has since said that he expects it to continue for another year or two before ending in Milan, London, Vienna, or at the Met.