A year after the death of Franco Battiato, the great Catania singer-songwriter who passed away on May 18 last year, there are many tributes on TV and on stage that will be paid to him in these days but also in the coming months.
Rai Documentaries dedicates a prime time to him with “The courage to be Franco” broadcast on May 18 on Rai1. Written and directed by Angelo Bozzolini and produced by Aut Aut Production in collaboration with Rai Documentari, the film traces the life and career of one of the most revolutionary authors of Italian music, a pioneer of new musical worlds. With the narrating voice of Alessandro Preziosi, the documentary also tries to return an intimate portrait of the artist, thanks to the story of his niece Cristina Battiato and the unpublished material from the photographic archives of the family, Rai, Cineteca di Bologna, Universal Music, as well as the exclusive shootings in the homes of Milan and Milo in Sicily, as well as in the places of the spirituality so deeply dear to Battiato. Among the unpublished documents, the autographed texts of 1966 and the exclusive photos of his first duo with Gregorio Alicata, “Gli ambulanti”, together with a song never heard before.
Sky celebrates the great legacy of the Catania singer-songwriter through the voice and music of the artists who knew and loved him. From Wednesday 18 May, it arrives on Sky Art at 9.15 pm (also available on demand and streaming on Now), ‘Franco Battiato – Il Tributo’, a documentary in 4 episodes, curated by Stefano Senardi and Edoardo Rossi, directed by Pepsy Romanoff. The work gives voice to the protagonists of Invito al viaggio, the tribute concert held at the Arena di Verona on 21 September 2021, exactly forty years after the release of the famous album La voce del padrone. On that occasion, more than 40 artists paid homage to Battiato by singing the most important songs of his repertoire, respecting his original arrangements. In the documentary, these same artists tell the story of the Catania singer-songwriter, from both an artistic and a human point of view: the bond with Sicily, the relationship with spirituality, the cultured and surprising poetics, the musical intuitions of the experimental period, up to the relationship with success and many curious anecdotes. The testimonies of the artists are punctuated by the voice of his friend Francesco Messina, who reads some short passages from his book The dawn inside the dusk, and by the voice of Battiato himself, belonging to several interviews released during his career and broadcast by the radio of a dark room where the development of 4 iconic portraits of the singer-songwriter takes place, one for each episode.
In addition, on the day of the anniversary, Rai Radio2 dedicates the whole day of Wednesday 18 May to the memory of the multifaceted genius of music. To celebrate Battiato in his capacity as a man of a thousand words, but also of a thousand performances, the Radio2 social networks will launch the hashtag #centrodigravitapermanente and ask the community to replicate the iconic performance of the video, in which the singer-songwriter performs an unforgettable ballet at rhythm with the chorus of the song. All the contributions that mention Radio2, together with those that will involve the cast of all the programs of the channel, will be re-shared on the social networks of the network during the day. The programs broadcast on Radio2 (and visually on the Radio2 TV channel on RaiPlay), will propose a piece by Battiato in the musical lineup of the day and an editorial to celebrate it within Caterpillar AM, Il Ruggito del Coniglio, Radio2 Social Club, It is not a country for young people and the version of two. Ti Sento, with Pierluigi Diaco, will prepare a tribute in the space dedicated to “The voices of the great Italians” by offering listeners fragments of repertoire and a playlist including those memorable duets with other great performers. At Back2Back, talk and listen to some of his great successes, with comments by Gino Castaldo and Ema Stokholma. Even I Lunatici, star performers of the night on Radio2, will remember him live, with a story dedicated to him. It will be possible to follow everything on Rai Radio2, RaiPlay Radio and RaiPlay Sound and visually on the Radio2 TV channel on RaiPlay.
Then there is the live tribute by Simone Cristicchi who dedicates his new live project to the Catania singer-songwriter and to his lesson. Together with AmaraCristicchi will propose from June 15 to August 28 a musical journey in search of the essence entitled “We will be back again” – mystical concert for Battiato, organized by International Music and Arts. Inspired by the mystical repertoire of the great Maestro, the two artists, for the first Once together on the stage, they render themselves with grace and respect interpreters of the spiritual messages that have made their work immortal.
An opportunity to rediscover a precious heritage, in a brand new guise arranged by Maestro Valter Sivilotti. Anticipated from date zero on June 15 in Salsomaggiore (Summer Arena), the tour – to which new dates will be added – will have its national premiere on June 19 in Verona (at the Roman theater for the Beauty Festival), to continue on July 5 in Rome (Casa del Jazz, for Concerts in the Park); July 16 in Azzano Decimo (Music Fair); on 11 August in Sirolo (Arena Parco Repubblica) and on 28 August in Torre Del Lago (Giacomo Puccini open-air theater).
Franco Battiato, one year after his death many tributes, including TV and concerts