A sort of Live Aid 2.0. A beneficial marathon in the time of the coronavirus: all distant, all close. A large or small screen, a microphone, a video camera and you're done. Because the Music that unites evening, on March 31 from 20.30 on Rai1 and in simulcast on Rai Radio2, is an experiment (born from an idea of Marta Donà) of entertainment and solidarity that involves, free of charge, dozens of artists - each from his home - to support a fundraiser for Civil Protection. No advertising breaks and the narrative voice of Vincenzo Mollica (on Radio2 the conduct of Carolina Di Domenico and Pier Ferrantini) which will act as a link between all the interventions.
"It will be our Live aid - the director of Rai1 Stefano Coletta told Repubblica - an evening in which all Italians will join the musicians to make their contribution to the fight against coronavirus. An event that will also be a technical experiment". Many names of Italian music have joined by giving some precious and unpublished moments, such as Cesare Cremonini's exciting piano medley, which unites the whole of Italy with some of his best known songs and his touching words. But there will also be Andrea Bocelli with what he himself calls "a dip in the past", or the voices of Giuliano Sangiorgi and Diodato who meet, at a distance, for an unpublished duet on Radiohead's "High and Dry". The winner of Sanremo will also be in a solo version.
Marco Mengoni performs voice and piano and then calls his choristers for an intimate and powerful interpretation of two classics such as "What the world needs now" and "A Change Is Gonna Come". The Nuclear Tactical Penguins dedicate "Bergamo" to their hit city and the Negramaro divide the screen into six parts and gather virtually to give some of their great hits; Riccardo Cocciante performs "Tu Italia", accompanying himself on the piano. Tiziano Ferro is connected from Los Angeles who performs with three songs including the cover of "At least you in the universe", with the will to "give something to whoever is at home, through music, and in particular with a song which gives me joy every time I sing it. " Gigi D'Alessio on the piano closes the medley of his successes by taking up the theme of "La vita è bella" by Piovani. The voices of Francesca Michielin and Fedez meet again, while Paola Turci gives an intense interpretation and a very delicate cover of a Veloso classic. Alessandra Amoroso and Emma, Brunori Sas, Elisa, Francesco Gabbani and Levante also join. Long, very long list, to which Il Volo Tommaso Paradiso (who chooses, among the pieces to be performed, a significant "Don't be afraid"), the Maneskin (together via web), Mahmood, Ermal Meta and Gazzelle. Marco Masini connects from his recording studio and Ludovico Einaudi gives two variations to the plan of "One morning" and "White clouds". But there will not be only singers and musicians. Virginia Raffaele and Roberto Bolle will create an ironic virtual ballet. And Paola Cortellesi and Pierfrancesco Favino will also work in pairs, reciting a dialogue that is inspired by these anomalous weeks. Gigi Proietti will declaim the splendid text of "Viva l'Italia" by Francesco De Gregori, while Enrico Brignano will try to make people smile with some of his reflections. Luca Zingaretti will recite a monologue he wrote. The sportsmen did not back off: Andrea Dovizioso, Bebe Vio, Federica Brignone, Federica Pellegrini, Roberta Vinci, Valentino Rossi and Gregorio Paltrinieri.
And there will be information spaces with experts from the scientific world such as Walter Ricciardi, Councilor of the Minister of Health, Giuseppe Ippolito, Scientific Director of the Spallanzani Institute, Giovanni Rezza, Director of the Infectious Diseases Department - Higher Institute of Health and the researcher, also from the ISS , Flavia Riccardo. There will be a special message from Angelo Borrelli, head of the Civil Protection. Contributions from the web will also punctuate the event, testifying with how resilient, creative, combative and civic spirit the Italians are facing this moment. The show will be available on all Rai platforms: RaiPlay, YouTube and Facebook channels. The evening will also be broadcast by Radio Italia Solomusicaitaliana.