A poorly executed effort by a city in Italy to feature a life-sized bronze figure of Pavarotti in a Christmas skating rink has displeased both the singer's fans and his family.
The statue, which depicts a cheerful Luciano Pavarotti in a concert tuxedo with his arms wide open, was revealed just last year outside the Rossina Theatre in Pesaro’s Piazzale Lazzarini.
However, when the seaside city opted to set up a 23-meter by 12-meter ice rink in the square for the holiday season, it discovered that the joyful tenor was positioned inconveniently.
The compromise? To place the maestro into the ice and “enclose” him with a railing to safeguard both the skaters and the statue.
In this alteration, poor Pavarotti appeared to be truncated at the knees, with local outlet Il Resto del Carlino noting he seemed to be raising his arms in defeat, as if saying: “What can be done? This is how I’ve been diminished…”
The ice rink commenced operations on November 29, yet by then the treatment of Pavarotti’s statue had already gained significant attention online, fueled by Pesaro’s Mayor Andrea Biancini urging people to give it a high-five with the hashtag daiuncinqueapavarotti.
Altered images on social media presented the bronze musician wearing ice skates, engaging in ice hockey, dancing, and even lifting a leg as if attempting to flee from the ice. Some individuals viewed the statue’s situation as disrespectful, whereas others found humor in the frozen predicament.
“One can immortalize the well-known occasion when Pavarotti became a tiny figure and hopped on a kid’s snowboard,” joked one commenter.
If they play hockey, he could always serve as the goalie suggested another.
Conversely, Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, who had been present at the statue’s inauguration in 2024 with their two daughters, was not pleased.
Speaking to Il Resto del Carlino, she expressed her dismay upon seeing images of the statue within the rink, describing it as an “absurd and poorly thought-out choice. ”
“While they want to honor him, at the same time, they are mocking him. This isn't appropriate. ”
Her remarks led to an apology from Biancini, who recognized that the local government had erred.
The mayor stated there was no intention to dishonor Pavarotti, who passed away in 2007 and had a longstanding bond with Pesaro, where he owned a villa and was granted honorary citizenship.
Nevertheless, while clarifying his past social media comments, Biancini mentioned that the tenor “was not a gloomy individual; he had a zest for life. ”
He explained to the local publication that when plans for the skating rink at Piazzale Lazzarini were initially made, he had been assured that the statue wouldn’t be disturbed. That assurance changed once technicians began the installation and discovered the statue would end up inside the rink due to the necessary dimensions.
Pesaro’s ex-mayor and former deputy mayor referred to it as “a present for the city” and a homage to Pavarotti – “an exceptional artist who remains unforgettable, [and an] honorary citizen of Pesaro. ”
At that time, they stated: “The site will be in Piazzale Lazzarini, where it meets Via Curiel, positioned to overlook the fountain, allowing it to greet and receive the residents of Pesaro and guests entering the square from Via Branca, almost as if beckoning them to the theatre. ”
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