Naples – A classy tribute to celebrate 70 years of Pino Daniele: the Palapartenope hosted an extraordinary event, which saw big names in music and young talents alternate on stage, in a perfect mix of talent and emotion.
Over 5.000 spectators paid homage to the legendary “Latin scoundrel” in an evocative atmosphere, curated down to the smallest details to make the tribute worthy of his artistic legacy.
The evening, organized by Rino Manna, represented a significant turning point in the history of the memorial that has been repeated for ten years. The general direction of Alessia Massa and the technical support of the Palapartenope guaranteed an impeccable show, enriched by scenic installations and light games that made the stage even more immersive.
A tribute between music, art and solidarity
In the foyer, wedding planner Nicola Pezzella curated the setup for a selfie area, while entertainment with karaoke and live music was organized by N'Arte and DamAcademy. A memorabilia corner displayed posters, tickets and historic shots by Pino Daniele, including limited edition images with Chick Corea by photojournalist Stefano Renna.
Great success for the merchandising of the memorial “Je sto vicino a te”, whose proceeds were donated to the oncology department of the Santobono-Pausilipon hospital. A solidarity initiative that also involved the designer Giuseppe Klain: his live painting, created during the event, was sold in less than 48 hours, with the proceeds donated to the same charity.
Rino Manna: “Pino’s music has no boundaries”
“An evening dedicated to music and social issues, just as Pino would have liked,” said Rino Manna. “We wanted to give space to young people on stage, because they will be the custodians of our artistic heritage. Seeing the new generations stand alongside the greats of music was a moment of extraordinary beauty.”
A show of emotions and standing ovations
The musical coordination of Maestro Adriano Pennino ensured a dynamic and engaging evening. The opening was entrusted to Miro di Mare, who evoked the young Pino Daniele by interpreting “Cercà 'e me capì” with voice and guitar. The rapper Jelecrois rewrote the verses of “Vento di passione”, snatching the first standing ovation of the evening. Dadà made “Sara non piangere” even more poetic, while Greg Rega inflamed the audience with a mix of “Quando” and “Che ore so”.
Following, Soul-Food Vocalist proposed an explosive mashup between “Keep on movin'” and “Ferryboat”, while Mavi, accompanied on the piano by Maestro Pennino, thrilled with “Senza 'e te”. Ste''s blues found perfect expression in “Je so pazzo”, while Maldestro paid homage to Carmine Daniele with “I got the blues”. Paolo Vallesi enchanted the audience with “Yes I Know my way”, Monica Sarnelli chose the evergreen “Lazzari felici” and La Nuova Orchestra Italiana closed the first act with “A me me piace o blues” and “'O scarrafone”.
A second act full of great emotions
The second half began with Pietra Montecorvino, who gave a touching interpretation of “Terra mia” before duetting with Eugenio Bennato in “Gay Cavalier,” recalling Pino’s iconic song with Richie Havens. Karima revived “Anna Viene” with an intense and applauded interpretation.
Grazia Di Michele gave an intimate touch to “Stare bene a metà”, while Ivan Segreto enchanted with “Je sto vicino a te”. Leo Gassmann chose “Amore senza fine”, Walter Ricci brought his jazz virtuosity to “Sul 'e parla'”, while Rossella Cosentino and Laura Klain moved with “Sicily”.
Joe Barbieri won over the audience with “A testa in giù” and “Ossaje comme fa' o core”, before an unexpected duet between Karima and the band Nea Arcadia on “Ho mal di te”.
A spine-chilling ending for Pino's birthday
The grand finale saw the audience all standing for “Napul'è”, sung by all the artists on stage while the screens showed images of Pino Daniele in his last concert at the Palapartenope. The show ended with a shower of confetti, reminding us that it was a party: the seventieth birthday of an icon of Italian music.
The event, hosted by Gigio Rosa and Emanuela Tittocchia, also saw the virtual participation of artists such as Francesco Cicchella, Almamegretta and Eugenio Bennato, as well as a video tribute by Al Di Meola, who recalled his special bond with Pino Daniele.
In the backstage, transformed into a lounge area, artists and staff were able to taste local specialties thanks to Eden Banqueting. The event obtained the patronage of the Campania Region, the Municipality of Naples, Naples City of Music and the Metropolitan City of Naples.
Article published on March 22, 2025 - 10pm
The event for Pino Daniele's 70th birthday seems to me to have been a well-organized thing, with many artists and a lot of emotion. However, there were also too many details to consider that perhaps made the evening a bit complicated for some spectators.