The city also responded enthusiastically to the 2023 edition of the Carosone Award and a packed Arena Flegrea enjoyed a show capable of bringing together roots and wings, tradition and experimentation.
Roberto Funaro's explosive Carosone dj set opened this fourteenth edition while the big screen showed images of the withdrawal from the scene of the immense American from Naples. Curated in the artistic direction by Federico Vacalebre, official biographer of Renato Carosone; and produced and promoted by Teta Pitteri, who since last year, has been joined by SCABEC, the Carosone Award this year has brought together on stage acclaimed protagonists and revelations of the musical scene, who have received the prestigious recognition and have combined the performance of songs from the Carosone songbook with their own songs (some famous, others unreleased performed for the first time live).
Introducing the artists, together with Gianni Simioli, Maria Elena Fabi and Noemi Gherrero.
This year, together with Renato Carosone, Vacalebre has also decided to pay homage to Sergio Bruni on the twentieth anniversary of his death, Federico Salvatore, Diego Armando Maradona, Domenico Modugno. The extraordinary backing band Afro Blue, namely Paolo Sessa (piano), Andrea Palazzo (guitars), Fabrizio Buongiorno (bass and synth bass), Umberto Muselli (sax and second keyboard), Paolo Forlini (drums), Gerardo Palumbo (percussion), Helen Tesfazghi (backing vocals).
The audience was immediately overwhelmed by a surprising version of “Ho giocate tre numeri al lotto”, proposed by Kalìka, who from their album “Ago, filo 'e parole”, chose “Fatmah” paying homage to Almamegretta. Then Roberto Colella (La Maschera) arrived and, with him, the memory of Federico Salvatore whose voice was heard in the precious unreleased “Si t'annascunne”. Colella completed his live moment with “Pigliate 'na pastiglia” and “Mirella e Felice”. “Maruzzella” chosen for Dario Sansone (Foja) who with his “'A mano 'e Dios” brought the D10s into the Newpolitan carousel of the Carosone Award. Recognition also to Bungaro on stage with “T'aspetto 'e nove” and “La donna riccia”, and to Suonno d'Ajere, who performed a live preview of their new single “Fotografia”, together with “Buonanotte”, a minor pearl of the Carosonian repertoire presented in a new dress, following Vacalebre's idea of preserving every piece of the great heritage of the American from Naples.
Then it was Dada's turn with “Torero” and the live debut of his new single, “Ver min”, accompanied, in tune with the Neapolitan Pride, with images from the video clip of Tarantina, dean of Neapolitan femminielli. Mario Venuti again with a bridge launched between “Napoli-Bahia”: after opening with “Figli delle Stelle” by Alan Sorrenti, 2022 Carosone Award, the former Denovo was joined by Lucariello for a live version of his new single. Lucariello remained on stage for an ad hoc “Guaglione” revisited, and “'E cose belle”. Then it was time for the guest of honor Eugenio Finardi, awarded by the president of SCABEC Pantaleone Annunziata. A Milanese with an American passport who sings very well in Neapolitan and who gave the audience “Tuo vuò fa' l'americano” and “Te voglio bene assaje”. With “Malatia” and “Caravan Petrol”, Ciccio Merolla was also awarded this edition, taking home the second Carosone Prize, awarded thinking of the father of all New York percussionists-fantasists Gegè Di Giacomo.
And then here is Raiz who with his album “Si l'ammore è 'o cuntrario d''a morte” paid homage to the great Sergio Bruni, twenty years after his death. His unreleased reinterpretation of “Giacca rossa e russetto”, intoned with “Carmela”. In 2003 the Carosone Prize was awarded to Enzo Jannacci. In 2023, twenty years later, it was collected by Paolo Jannacci, who gave the audience of the Arena Flegrea the three pearls “Canterò”, “Voglio parlarti adesso” and “Vincenzina e la fabbrica”, a tribute to the great father, who in 2003 was awarded by Luciano De Crescenzo, as the images on the leadwall reminded a moved audience. Grand finale with Franco Ricciardi, fresh from the sold out at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, who made the Arena Flegrea dance with “'O Sarracino”, performed together with Ciccio Merolla, and with his “Primmavera”.
The event will be broadcast on Monday 10 July at 20:50 on Canale21.
Article published on 3 July 2023 - 10:00
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