Frozen-in tenor: Italian mayor apologises over Pavarotti statue stuck in ice rink

"The lifesize bronze, featuring Pavarotti wearing a tuxedo with his arms outstretched and holding a handkerchief in one hand, was unveiled to much fanfare last year in a square in the centre of Pesaro, a coastal city in the Marche region. The statue was intended as a tribute to the late tenor, who had a home and honorary citizenship in Pesaro, also the birthplace of the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini."

"But instead, surrounding Pavarotti with a very ugly ice rink had ridiculed his memory, Nicoletta Mantovani, the tenor's widow, said after images of the statue trapped up to its knees were circulated online. Mantovani told the local newspaper Il Resto del Carlino that she was disappointed, angry and upset. It was like a bolt out of the blue, she said after the newspaper sent her the images. I'm sorry the city allowed something like this, because it affects Luciano's image and the respect he deserves."

"Andrea Biancini, the mayor of Pesaro, appeared to aggravate the issue by sharing an image of the statue in the ice rink alongside a hashtag encouraging skaters to give Pavarotti a high five. He later apologised, admitting that the local council had made a mistake. There was no intention of disrespect, he told Il Resto del Carlino. I was assured that Pavarotti wouldn't be touched or incorporated into the ice rink floor."

A lifesize bronze statue of Luciano Pavarotti was unveiled last year in a central square in Pesaro as a tribute to the late tenor, who lived in the city and held honorary citizenship. A seasonal Christmas ice rink was built around the statue, leaving the figure trapped up to its knees and prompting outrage from Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, who said the installation harmed his image. Pesaro's mayor, Andrea Biancini, shared an image encouraging skaters to high-five the statue, later apologising and saying the council made a mistake. Officials said dismantling or moving the statue before the festive feature opened would be costly and risk damage.

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