The mayor of Pesaro has issued a formal apology following public outcry over the controversial placement of a Christmas ice rink that completely encased a statue honoring legendary opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti. The temporary installation, constructed in the town’s central piazza, left the life-sized bronze monument knee-deep in ice and surrounded by perspex barriers, creating what many considered an undignified setting for the memorial.
Nicoletta Mantovani, Pavarotti’s widow, expressed profound disappointment with the municipal decision, telling Italian media outlet Il Resto del Carlino that she felt ‘angry and upset’ about what she perceived as ridicule toward her late husband’s legacy. ‘I didn’t expect a town would allow this treatment of the memory and the image of a person who made Italy great around the world,’ she stated, characterizing the action as a ‘poorly executed, absurd decision.’
Mayor Andrea Biancani acknowledged the misstep, admitting his administration had ‘made a mistake’ and emphasizing that there was no intentional disrespect toward the opera icon. The controversy intensified when Biancani previously shared a digitally altered image on social media depicting the statue playing ice hockey with the hashtag #DaiUnCinqueAPavarotti (Give a high-five to Pavarotti).
The mayor explained that initial plans presented to him assured that the statue would remain untouched, and he only discovered the compromised design after construction began. While acknowledging the unfortunate situation, Biancani noted that dismantling the rink or relocating the monument at this stage would be impractical, though he guaranteed similar incidents would not recur.
The statue was officially unveiled in April 2024 with Mantovani and her daughter Alice in attendance, commemorating Pavarotti’s deep connections to Pesaro where he maintained a vacation villa and held honorary citizenship. The opera legend, who passed away in 2007 at age 71 from pancreatic cancer, remains one of Italy’s most celebrated cultural figures, renowned for his performances with The Three Tenors and his iconic rendition of Nessun Dorma at the 1990 World Cup.