Great Italian pianist MaurizioPollini died on Saturday at the age of 82. The legendary musician had been ill for some time and had canceled several recent concerts.
He will lie in State at Milan's La Scala opera house, which he was closely linked to.
The theater led the tributes to him.
"The Teatro alla Scala mourns the loss of Maurizio Pollini, one of the great musicians of our time and a fundamental reference in the theatre's artistic life for over 50 years," it said in a statement.
"CEO Dominique Meyer, Music Director Riccardo Chailly, the musicians of the orchestra and the La Scala workers feel close to his wife Marilisa, his son Daniele and the whole family.
"Alongside his greatness as an instrumentalist, his testimony to the very role of music, understood as an essential component of culture and civil life and as a tool for transforming society, remains fundamental.
"From his debut on October 11, 1958, to his last recital on February 13, 2023, Pollini performed at La Scala 168 times, in addition to meetings with students and participation in juries and conferences".
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