Gianni Conte – famous soloist of Renzo Arbore's Italian Orchestra – piano and voice, conquered the audience of the Auditorium Sant'Alfonso Maria De Liguori on Sunday 21 December in Pagani.
The show, organized by Alfonso Giannattasio – president of the association “Friends at the Theatre” and artistic and cultural reference point of the area – born from the collaboration with AISLA, the Italian Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, and by the commitment that Giannattasio renews every year in promoting an event dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the association's activities. The proceeds of the evening were in fact donated entirely to AISLA.
Gianni Conte, who established a warm and friendly atmosphere with the audience from the start, reiterated his pleasure at being present at a charity initiative that he described as "one of the right ones."
The artist's repertoire was broad and varied. The audience, welcomed into the impeccable Auditorium—the ideal place to immerse themselves in the magic of music—were transported by the evocative notes of Neapolitan tradition. With famous melodies, love songs, historical pieces, and original arrangements, Gianni Conte paid homage to composers such as Ernesto Tagliaferri and Ernesto Murolo, without neglecting the contemporary reinterpretations of Neapolitan musicality proposed by artists such as Pino Daniele and Fabrizio De André, highlighting their expressive power.
The multifaceted and cosmopolitan Renato Carosone also made an appearance, recalling the singer's experience with Renzo Arbore, which marked a significant turning point in his thirty-year career. His Neapolitan musical roots were the absolute protagonists of a respectful and nostalgic musical journey, conducted as a true act of love for the art of music and the city.
Music and bel canto thus enlivened and enthralled the audience in a Neapolitan salon atmosphere. The protagonist's recounting of personal anecdotes transformed the theater into a place of encounter and sharing, where sound and melody served as instruments of unity.
Moments of spontaneous comedy from Rosario Battinelli and Rosaria Chianese, with the participation of Giannattasio himself, also added levity and surprise to the show, through a fun sketch that highlighted Conte's ability to play the game with elegance and stage presence.
The show was much more than a concert. The music served as a bridge to the evening: it made people smile, it moved them, but above all it united the audience at the finale, with the profound and touching moment generated by Patrizia's testimony. – her husband discovered he had ALS at just 48 years old – present in the room with the text written by his daughter Martina, who at the beginning of the family odyssey – about ten years ago – was only thirteen years old.
The reading delivered in the theater hit the audience like a silent wave, giving the performance the nuances of a civic testimony: an expression of hope and the search for freedom for those experiencing the perverse force of this disease, both as sufferers and as caregivers.
Martina's words, read in a firm voice by Rosaria Chianese, conveyed the intimate dimension of the complex journey the entire family underwent in its various roles.
"Over time, I've seen my father's body change. First a limp, then a crutch, a wheelchair, until he became immobile. As he lost strength, my emotions changed. Anger gave way to shame. […] Over time, shame gave way to responsibility. My family is made up of four people: Mom, Dad, me—the eldest daughter—and my brother. Being the firstborn has profoundly affected my role. […] I became my mother's right-hand man, the one she could count on in the most difficult moments.
This gave me pride, but also a profound weariness. Being the eldest daughter meant almost naturally taking on the role of caregiver. And I understood something important: care isn't just love, it's also a social construct, regardless of age. Today, almost ten years after the onset of the disease, I feel all the fatigue of this journey.”
The moving moment was accompanied by a speech by the head of the AISLA Salerno–Avellino–Benevento chapter, Dr. Pina Esposito, who emphasized the importance of the support the association offers to families affected by ALS and the support network it provides: listening, guidance, and presence. Her heartfelt and direct speech was a powerful invitation to learn more about this organization active in the area.
There's no cure for ALS, but there's a need for treatment: this is inevitable. Patrizia has locked herself away with her family, but at the same time, she's a woman who helps other families, explaining what's needed, who to turn to, and everything needed to help others navigate the journey. For this reason, in a certain sense, she's also a beacon.
What we need to do as a team It's trying to imagine, to understand what Patrizia is going through, what it means to constantly oscillate between physical and professional demands, because life must go on anyway. Today she is here to bear witness to all of this: her son is at home, and every choice is a sacrifice. And so, if anyone can welcome us, I thank you. Because it's about love, and love is truly the protagonist of this evening.
A few days before the event, and on the eve of Christmas, the evening takes on an even deeper meaning. The editorial staff of Chronicles of Campania He chose to recount this evening today, a time when attention to others becomes more intense and the heart is more willing to listen. A way to remember that a performance can give voice not only to hope, but also to the silent pain that often remains in the shadows.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The event was very interesting and touching, but I noticed that some moments seemed a bit confusing and poorly organized. Also, the music was beautiful, but at times too loud for my personal taste.