A Statue of Luciano Pavarotti, the renowned Italian tenor, has sparked controversy in Pesaro, Italy. The city's decision to build a skating rink around the life-size bronze statue, inviting passersby to 'high-five' the famous singer, has caused an uproar. Nicoletta Mantovani, the late tenor's last wife, expressed her disappointment, stating that the statue's placement was disrespectful to her late husband's memory. The mayor, Andrea Biancani, faced backlash for posting a doctored image of Pavarotti skating on Facebook, suggesting people 'high-five' the statue. Despite the initial controversy, the city claims there was no intention to disrespect Pavarotti's legacy, and they have since built a wall around the statue to separate it from the rink, though skaters can still touch it. The statue, inaugurated in April 2024, honors Pavarotti's legacy and his contributions to classical music, including his collaboration with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras as The Three Tenors, which produced the best-selling classical album of all time.
