The bronze statue of Luciano Pavarotti unveiled a year ago in the city of Pesaro, where the famous tenor lived and was an honorary citizen, is shrouded in controversy.
All because the mayor decided to build a temporary ice rink for fun during the Christmas season, leaving the sculpture precisely in the middle of the rink. Mayor Andrea Biancini even took to social media to appeal to skaters to come and give a high five to the famous singer.
This situation caused discomfort to Luciano Pavarotti’s family, with Nicoletta Mantovani, the widow of the legendary opera singer, telling the local newspaper Il Resto del Carlino that surrounding the statue, up to its knees, with a “very ugly” ice rink “ridiculed” Pavarotti’s memory. “I’m disappointed, angry and upset. It was like lightning in a blue sky”, he said as soon as he saw the photos sent to him by that newspaper.
“I’m sorry that the city allowed something like this, because it affects Luciano’s image and the respect he deserves. It’s simply not right,” he said.
It should be noted that the statue of Pavarotti depicts the singer in life size, with his arms open with a scarf in one hand. It is located in the central square of Pesaro, where a year ago it was inaugurated with great pomp and circumstance.
Andrea Biancini has now apologized, admitting having “made a mistake”. “We had no intention of disrespecting Pavarotti”, said the mayor to the Il Resto del Carlinoadding that he was assured that the statue “would not be touched or incorporated into the ice rink”.