Pavarotti Statue Encased in Ice Rink Prompts an Apology
In this undated image, Luciano Pavarotti is shown. (AP Photo/file)
A mayor in Italy has issued an apology after a bronze statue of celebrated tenor Luciano Pavarotti ended up encased in the middle of a temporary Christmas ice rink, with skaters reportedly encouraged to “give [him] a high-five”—a move Pavarotti’s widow says “ridiculed” the opera legend.
The statue, unveiled last year in the city of Pesaro, was intended to honor Pavarotti, who had a home in the city and was an honorary citizen. But when the holiday ice rink was built around it, the figure—its arms outstretched—became trapped up to its knees in ice.
Nicoletta Mantovani, Pavarotti’s widow, voiced her frustration after images of the statue’s unusual predicament spread online. “It affects Luciano’s image and the respect he deserves. It’s not right,” she told local media.
The controversy intensified after Pesaro’s mayor, Andrea Biancini, initially posted a photo of the statue with a hashtag encouraging skaters to “give Pavarotti a high-five.” Biancini later admitted the city “made a mistake” and apologized to Pavarotti’s family, emphasizing that the gesture was not intended to be disrespectful.
The mayor also explained that he had been assured the statue would not be part of the rink’s floor and that it can no longer be removed without risking damage. Local media described the scene as resembling “a stage character who fell into the wrong place and now finds himself directing the traffic of skaters.”
Residents are divided over the incident. Some are outraged, while others consider it a minor issue compared with more pressing concerns. “There are bigger problems in life,” one Pesaro resident told The Independent.
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