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The music world mourns the songwriter and singer Franco Battiato.
He died in his apartment in Sicily on Tuesday, Italian media reported.
According to this, Battiato had been living withdrawn for a long time due to illness.
As a musician, Battiato knew how to bring together different styles and directions.
He moved between songwriter and synthpop, but also used orchestral elements and electronic influences as well as world music.
He also created operas and masses, often esoteric.
His musical beginnings were experimental and influenced by John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen. His first album »Pollution« was released in 1973 and reached number 19 in the Italian charts, followed by many very successful albums in changing styles. Abroad he advanced to the avant-garde and appeared with stars like Brian Eno and Nico. However, that did not prevent him from competing with Alice for Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1984. Battiato also composed for other stars, such as Milva.
Battiato also worked as a painter under the pseudonym Süphan Barzani.
He often painted praying Sufis and dervishes, his paintings have been exhibited worldwide and can also be found on his record covers.
Between 2012 and 2013 he was politically active in the tourism council of the regional government of Sicily, at his own request he did not receive a salary.
He received the Gold Medal of Merit in Art and Culture in 2003 and the Order of Merit of Italy in 2004.
Numerous politicians, including Head of State Sergio Mattarella, paid tribute to the musician.
“A master has left us.
One of the greatest songwriters in Italy «, Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini wrote in a statement.
cpa / dpa