Pavarotti Statue at Center of controversy After Ice Rink Installation in Italian City
PESARO, ITALY – A winter ice rink installed around the statue of opera legend luciano pavarotti in the central Italian city of Pesaro has sparked outrage from the singer’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, and prompted an apology from the city’s mayor. The installation, intended as a seasonal attraction, has been widely criticized as disrespectful to the memory of the globally renowned tenor.
The controversy centers on the design of the rink, which encircles the statue in Pesaro’s main square, appearing to submerge the figure up to its knees in ice and enclose it within plexiglass barriers. Mantovani, speaking to local media outlet Il Resto del Carlino, expressed her “anger and upset” at what she described as a “mockery” of her late husband. “I did not expect that a city would allow the memory and image of a person who made Italy great around the world to be treated like this,” she stated. the widow accused the city management of making a “badly executed, absurd decision.”
Pavarotti,who was later named an honorary citizen,frequently vacationed in Pesaro with his wife and owned a villa in the area. He passed away eighteen years ago, in 2006, but remains a cultural icon. The city, with a population of approximately one hundred thousand, had previously gained recognition largely due to its association with the celebrated tenor.
Mayor Andrea Biancani responded to the criticism, stating he had not intended to offend anyone and acknowledging that his council “made a mistake.” He also issued an apology to the Pavarotti family. The future of the ice rink installation remains uncertain as the city assesses the fallout from the public outcry.
