Claudio Baglioni @ NYU

After 120,000 kilometers of traveling around the world, with concerts in five continents, Baglioni arrived in New York to perform a solo concert, “because this kind of theaters has certain acoustics that allow for this kind of choice. I also wanted to give my musicians a break”.

 

 

 
From Brussels to Tokyo, from Australia to South America, Baglioni met those Italians that are  spread around the world. “There is a strong connection, a beautiful sensation. Italy should have a new unification in this spirit, beginning in 2011”. The author is very attached to the concept of the voyage and of migrations.
 

 In Lampedusa he created the O' Scia' project, an artistic project (which up until now saw the participation of over 300 artists and is supported by many important international organizations, such as the Red Cross and Amnesty International, as well as many NGOs), “to promote the culture of dialogue. We live in times of fear and the real problem is that people lack mutual respect and they tend to seek refuge with power. I have always preferred thinking about 'power' as an action: the 'power' to do something. Unfortunately, it is used mainly as an object, 'the power' as a refuge in a temple within which lies a serious crisis among interpersonal relations”.
 
Baglioni underlined how the commitment of artists in good causes should not be considered an extraordinary fact, or at least worth of merit. “It must be done. It's like paying taxes. It is necessary. It is the first form of solidarity. We are only amplifiers of a more intense work that others do. We are like trumpeters of an army, but the true battles are won by others”.
 
The curiosity of the public concentrated on his lyric writing. With surprising honesty, the artist admitted how he pays more attention to the melody of the words than to their content. “When I write I am terrorized by the words. I would be very happy to not have to use them. I use words to add musicality to the musical writing. I look for linguistic games and the idea of narrating something is not a priority”.
 
A warm public supported him for the whole event with applauses, questions and a lively interest towards the topics. He received a portrait from an audience member, and many were moved remembering the lyrics of his songs, the soundtrack of a lifetime.