OMAGGIO A FRANCO BATTIATO del Guarnieri Ensemble

Soon it will be five years without Franco Battiato. An absence that continues to be felt, but also a vibrant, luminous presence, capable of transcending time. To celebrate his artistic and philosophical legacy, the Agìmus season in Mola di Bari, directed by Piero Rotolo, is proposing a special event on Saturday, February 14 (at 8:45 PM), at the Teatro van Westerhout, where an intense and evocative performance dedicated to one of the greatest innovators of Italian music will take place.

The evening will feature the Guarnieri Ensemble, composed of Teresa Lombardo (violin), Nadia Tidona (viola), Alessandro Romano (guitar and vocals), and Giuseppe Guarnieri (piano and arrangements), accompanied by the narrating voice of actor Giovanni Peligra. Music and words intertwine in a project that not only retraces an extraordinary career but invites the audience to enter Battiato's inner world, filled with sounds, visions, and thoughts.

Through original arrangements, author interpretations, and moments of reflection, the concert (a production by Art Evolution) becomes an immersive and poetic experience: a true journey into the soul of Battiato's compositions. The program includes some of his most beloved and representative songs, from "La cura" to "Centro di gravità permanente," from "L'era del cinghiale bianco" to "E ti vengo a cercare," along with gems like "I treni di Tozeur," "Summer on a Solitary Beach," "No Time No Space," "Prospettiva Nevski," "Povera patria," "Bandiera Bianca," "Gli uccelli," and many other hits by the Sicilian artist. Each piece is a stop on an inner and collective journey, reflecting Battiato's extraordinary ability to blend pop, classical, electronic, and mystical elements into a universal language that speaks to the heart and mind, beyond all boundaries.

The Guarnieri Ensemble stems from a shared passion for telling the music, lyrics, and thoughts of Franco Battiato. The first project, "Invito al Viaggio" (2016), marked the beginning of an ever-evolving artistic journey, continued with the show "Mondi Lontanissimi" (2020), which, after the master's passing, took on an even deeper emotional significance while maintaining its original spirit. In recent years, the success of "Orizzonti Perduti," with numerous sold-out performances in major Sicilian theaters and the release of a CD, has confirmed the strength and authenticity of this project.

The show being presented in Mola di Bari maintains a well-defined theatrical structure: over 20 pieces arranged for piano, voice, guitar, and strings, interspersed with texts and thoughts of Battiato recited on stage. It tells the story of the various artistic phases of the master, from his collaboration with Manlio Sgalambro to female collaborations, following as a common thread his profound inner evolution, in a heartfelt and vibrant tribute to a free and visionary artist who continues to indicate possible horizons.