Alice & Franco Battiato
Live In Perugia Palaevangelisti 14/03/16

THE REVIEW

Just returned from the concert of Battiato and Alice held at the Palaevangelisti in Perugia. What can I say!? Despite being 70 years old, Battiato defies the passing of time and delivers a high-level event for his fans, myself included. He struggles at first, but soon gets into his stride and nothing can stop him. Alice, equally talented and vocally superb, doesn't quite leave the mark as her colleague does; her pieces aren't memorable, failing to carve themselves into the listener's memory and heart. Everything Franco sings, by contrast, remains etched in your mind, despite him singing in his famous falsetto and her, Alice, surpassing him in technique. This shows that often, it's not vocal technique that matters, but the atmosphere and the worlds that the vocal cords evoke.
Through his lyrics and melodies, the Sicilian artist manages to reach straight into the audience's heart and mind, especially the listener's, because the music of Mr. Franco Battiato, even if it can serve as a simple background at social events, is music to be listened to if you want to fully savor it.
Introspective at the start, more engaging towards the end, when everyone got up from their seats to rush towards the stage, singing his classic hits at the top of their lungs. Seeing him up close was an important, enriching experience, because I witnessed a human being, a man like any other, with his tenderness and fragility. Humble like few others (although many ignorant people label him as a snobbish intellectual), with unique sensitivity, Franco Battiato is a true artist. His humility occasionally mixes with irony, the few words he speaks, his few sentences are precise, intelligent, and full of youthful spirit. Despite his 70 years, Battiato is a young man full of life. His partnership with Alice is strong and you can feel the synergy and complicity. The musicians who played WITH them (Ensemble Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Guaitoli) were no less. Very professional, I would say impeccable. The emotion was palpable. It was two hours of a lived concert. Long live Battiato and Alice, two eternally young artists.

Highlights: “L'Era del Cinghiale Bianco” (first song), “Nomadi”, “Gli Uccelli”, “La Realtà Non Esiste” (cover of the piece by Claudio Rocchi, with an introductory dedication by Battiato to the artist who passed away in 2013), “Prospettiva Nevski”, “Bandiera Bianca / Sentimiento Nuevo” (medley) and “I Treni Di Tozeur” (final song).