Ivano Fossati
Live @ Teatro Fraschini, Pavia 18.01.09

THE REVIEW

Evenings of six friends in a friendly and convivial big car (a large multipurpose vehicle) slicing through the densest fog from Tortona to Pavia, all for a great cause: attending the concert of Ivano Fossati's new tour.

The new album is beautiful. Promises well. And he is an excellent music chef, always has been, and it's definitely worth it.

And we arrive early, knowing and anticipating the road's humidity, the thickness of the fog, and the parking difficulties. But we arrive a bit too early, indeed.

The ticket office is closed, and we can't pick up the reserved tickets. However, in front of the theater, there's a nice Osteria, colorful, intellectual, and naturally called "Osteria Del Teatro."

Inside, a very pretty waitress, worth a thousand menus and signs.

Outside, enduring the moisture, there's an interesting menu. A fish dinner accompanied by a good Traminer from Trentino.

Then we sit in the theater, a bit too warm but beautiful. Before the concert, a young singer-songwriter opens, scholarly and very in-tune, not too ostentatious as school and fashion would dictate, and ultimately quite good, despite his blameless uselessness, still well-applauded.

Then comes Fossati, with his wonderful band. The first part of the concert is entirely dedicated to the latest album, to that "Musica Moderna" which I consider a masterpiece if evaluated "hic et nunc," as the best possible work in a generally declining and unfortunate era. Some songs are as beautiful as on the album, others shine beyond expectations ("Last Minute" and "La Guerra Dell'Acqua" especially). He is in the center, amidst a wall of three guitars that will accompany most of the concert. Instead, when he sits at the piano and starts a heartfelt and deep version of the never enough praised "La Costruzione Di Un Amore," a long and enthusiastic applause opens the wide parentheses of memories.

The choice of the set list is wise and well-calibrated, ranging from the best-ever version of "Discanto" to the unpredictable revival of "Di Tanto Amore." The concert ends with a new "La Musica Che Gira Intorno," acoustic with only guitars and drums.

Over two hours of concert. During the break, to remind us that we're in Oltrepò, an interesting tasting of sparkling wines.

Outside, waiting for us, an even denser fog than before and a long musical happiness.