Regarded as one the finest baritones of his age, he was diagnosed with brain cancer two-and-a-half years ago.
Born in Siberia, he sang in a heavy metal band before making his name in opera as the winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 1989.
He beat Bryn Terfel in that competition and went on to perform in all the world's major opera houses.
Hvorostovsky, described by Elle magazine as the "Elvis of opera", became especially renowned for his portrayal of the title character in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.
