Pavarotti โคStatueโข at Center of controversy After Ice Rink Installation inโ Italian โขCity
PESARO, ITALY – A winter ice rink installed around theโฃ statue โof opera โคlegend luciano pavarotti inโ the central Italianโค cityโ of Pesaro has sparked outrage from โขthe singer’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, andโ prompted an apology from the city’s mayor. The installation, intendedโข as a seasonal attraction, has been widely criticized โฃas disrespectful to the memory of the globally renowned tenor.
The controversy centers on โฃthe design โofโ the rink, whichโ encircles the statue inโข Pesaro’s main square, appearing to submergeโ the figure โup to its knees in ice and enclose itโฃ within plexiglass barriers. Mantovani, speaking to localโ media outlet โ 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 โฃcity would allow โthe memory and image of a person who made Italy great aroundโฃ the world toโ beโฃ treatedโ like this,” she stated. theโ widow accusedโข the city management of making a “badly executed, absurd decision.”
Pavarotti,who was later named an honorary citizen,frequently vacationed in Pesaro with his โwife and owned a villa in the area. He passed away eighteen โคyears ago, in 2006, but remains aโค cultural icon. The city, with aโข population of approximatelyโ one hundred thousand,โ hadโ previously โฃgained recognitionโค largely due toโค its association with theโ celebrated โtenor.
Mayor Andrea Biancani respondedโค to the criticism, stating he hadโ not intended to offend anyone and โacknowledging that hisโค council “made aโ mistake.” He also issued an apology to the Pavarotti family. โฃTheโข future of the ice rink installation remains uncertain as โthe city assesses the fallout โfrom the public outcry.
