A Statue of Luciano Pavarotti, the renowned Italian tenor, has sparked controversy in Pesaro, Italy, where it was placed in a skating rink. The statue, depicting Pavarotti in a tailcoat with his signature handkerchief, was positioned in the center of the rink, inviting passersby to 'high-five' the famous singer. This decision has caused outrage among those close to Pavarotti, particularly his last wife, Nicoletta Mantovani, who felt it was disrespectful. Mantovani expressed her disappointment, stating that the city's actions disrespected her late husband's image and the respect he deserved. The mayor of Pesaro, Andrea Biancani, faced criticism for posting a doctored image of Pavarotti skating on Facebook, encouraging people to #daiUnCinqueAPavarotti (high-five Pavarotti). Despite the initial backlash, Biancani defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and humor during the holiday season. However, the city has since apologized, acknowledging that the statue's placement was not intended to be disrespectful. The installers mistakenly built the rink around the statue, and officials are now taking steps to separate it from the rink with a short wall. The statue was inaugurated in April 2024 to honor Pavarotti and his wife, who had a holiday home nearby. Pavarotti is celebrated as one of the greatest tenors of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. His collaboration with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, known as The Three Tenors, produced the best-selling classical album in history. Pavarotti's last public performance was at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
