Bronze Statue of Luciano Pavarotti Unveiled in Pesaro, Italy

The statue was commissioned by the city following the unveiling of Pavarotti's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022

A new bronze statue of the renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti has been unveiled in Pesaro, Italy — the town where Pavarotti kept a villa and spent some of his time. The statue was made by Albano Poli, using a lost wax casting technique. It will be positioned in front of the town's opera house, the Teatro Rossini, to visually cement Pesaro's connection to the two musical figures.

The city of Pesaro had announced its intention to commission the statue in August 2022, just after Pavarotti's star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Members of Pavarotti's family were present at both that ceremony and at the recent unveiling of the statute.

Widely regarded as one of the finest singers of the twentieth century, Pavarotti was a lyric tenor who was particularly beloved for his purity of tone. His notable operatic roles included the Duke in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Tonio in Donizetti’s La Fille du régiment, Arturo in Bellini’s I puritani, and Radamès in Verdi’s Aida.

At the height of his popularity, Pavarotti was performing for 500,000 fans at a time in outdoor venues, either as a soloist or as one of the “Three Tenors” (alongside Plácido Domingo and José Carreras). He was the recipient of five GRAMMY Awards, and was given a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001.

"It is a gift to the city but above all a tribute to Luciano Pavarotti," said Matteo Ricci, the mayor of Pesaro and Daniele Vimini, deputy mayor. "[He was] an extraordinary artist, never forgotten, honorary citizen of Pesaro – which we have decided to honor with a life-size, high-value bronze structure."

"It will be located in Piazzale Lazzarini, at the intersection with Via Curiel, in a position in perspective of the fountain so that it can greet and welcome with its presence the people of Pesaro and visitors who enter the square coming from Via Branca, almost as if to invite them to the theatre."