Pavarotti statue knee-deep in ice in Italian ice rink attracts wrong attention

The Italian mayor has apologized to the family of opera star Luciano Pavarotti after the town of Pesaro installed a statue honoring the late singer at its Christmas ice rink.

The singer’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, told local media she was “angry and upset” by what she said was the decision to “mockery” her late husband.

A makeshift rink was built in the center of the town square, with Pavloti’s statue knee-deep in ice and surrounded by Plexiglas walls.

Mayor Andrea Biancani said he did not mean to offend anyone and admitted his council “made a mistake”.

Ahead of the Nov. 29 opening, Biancarni posted an altered image of a Pavarotti statue playing hockey with the hashtag #DaiUnCinqueAPavarotti, which translates to “high five Pavarotti.”

Ms Mantovani told local newspaper Il Resto del Carlino: “I did not expect that a small town would allow such treatment of the memory and image of a man who made Italy great around the world.”

She accused the committee of making “poorly implemented, ridiculous decisions.”

The life-size bronze statue was officially unveiled in Pesaro in April 2024 in a ceremony attended by Ms Mantovani and the couple’s daughter Alice.

The couple often vacationed in Pesaro, where Pavarotti owned a villa and was an honorary citizen.

Bianchini told Carlino Restaurantthe event was nicknamed “Pavarotti on Ice” when planned Initially shown the rink and assured that the Pavarotti statue would not be touched, it was only later that he discovered that the designers had been forced to alter their structure.

He said it was not possible to demolish the rink or move the statue at this late stage, but insisted it “will never happen again”.

Pavarotti was an Italian tenor widely regarded as one of the most successful opera stars of all time.

His performances in the Three Tenors concerts are well known around the world, as is his performance of “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s “Turandot” at the 1990 Football World Cup in Italy.

His last performance was at the opening ceremony of the Turin Winter Olympics in February 2006.

He died the following year at age 71 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Pavarotti left four daughters from his two marriages. Ms. Mantovani was his second wife. She remarried in 2020, to financial advisor Alberto Tinarelli.