Stranizza d’Amuri. Riposto celebrates Franco Battiato. Sobriety. It is a level event evening. Not a tribute, any party, but a prayer. The sincere, enveloping embrace of an entire city. His hometown, Riposto. The Scariceddu district, where he took his first steps. Protagonist Ciccio (for the Ripostesi) Franco Battiato. Memories, unpublished interviews, musical clips and intense emotions. Spirituality. Red Ronnie, masterful conductor of an evening packed down to the smallest detail. In the background, St. Peter’s Square, with its neoclassical buildings, packed as never before. Sobriety we said. But also great care of the lineup that followed a precise path, alternating emotions and emotion.
Juri Camisasca opens with the famous piece Nomadi who “seek the corners of tranquility in the mists of the north and in the turmoil of civilizations, between the light and dark and the monotony of the passing days”. And the extraordinary and intense Nevsky Prospect: “it is time for each of us to find his dawn in a world at sunset without values and poetry – says the Milanese singer-songwriter – it is the song that confirms Franco Battiato as the greatest poet of spiritual music in the world”. St. Peter’s Square becomes magical with the Shadow of Light sung in Arabic by Giuseppina Zappa. Inspired by the “Tibetan book of the dead”, it remains a priceless piece. The Shadow of Light is able to initiate awakening.
It is a prayer, it is a request for protection. It is a mantra. Then the thrill of seeing Michele Battiato on stage, Franco’s brother who received the most prestigious award from the mayor of the city, Enzo Caragliano, the brave captains “Nino Caragliano”. The mayor dwelt on the figure of Battiato “who took his first steps in his neighborhood, in front of the sea that inspired him so many times; rooted in the territory, to then become a universal genius. Proud, therefore, to deliver to the family a prestigious award that we reserve for those characters who have been able to bring their repostessity into the world, through their ideals and thus affirm them. Ciccio Battiato embodies this concept ”.
Michele Battiato, who received the prestigious award, does not hide his emotion, complimenting the sobriety with which the municipal administration of Ripostese, with the support of the Regional Entertainment Department, organized the tribute evening “Stranizza d’amuri”: “My brother speaks for himself; he does not need his family to support him for this reason we have declined invitations and interviews, participating only in some quality events like the one tonight, in his Riposto. I thank the sensitivity of the mayor with the council but, above all, the citizenship pinned. Because we were born in the Scaricdeddu district. The beating heart of Riposto, the true identity of the maritime city “. For his part, the councilor for tourism, Carmelo D’Urso said he was happy with the extraordinary participation, “for what will be remembered over time as a magical event that returns affection and admiration to one of the most famous children”.
On stage there is still a succession of emotions, with the artist from Modica, Giovanni Caccamo who gave the large audience of St. Peter’s Square a suggestive and intense La Cura, overcoming “the gravitational currents. Space and light to keep you from getting old ”. Then the pressing and engaging rhythm of the Experomentia with White Flag, the testimony of Luca Madonia of Denovo, music and clips of unpublished videos, such as the hilarious game of billiards at Battiato’s home in Milo. Grand finale, then, with the storyteller from Riposto Luigi Di Pino and the spirituality of Filippo Destrieri, keyboard player alongside Battiato for 20 years who created the right magic for a long evening event. During the review, the late Ripostese notary Filippo Patti, a great friend of the Ripostese singer-songwriter, was remembered. The Stranizza d’amuri prize was awarded to his daughter Stefania.