The 73rd edition of the Sanremo Festival started a few days ago. The event conducted by Amadeus has obtained important ratings but also increasingly "incisive" and "heavy" criticisms not only from Italian insiders but also from overseas such as, for example, pop tenor Jonathan Cilia Faro.
An artist who established himself in America and who decided to emigrate precisely because he didn't want to submit to a system which, instead of concretely enhancing music, was (but we could very well say is) destroying it.
“The Rai – says Cilia Faro – should use public money to educate its audience about culture in all its forms. Instead of doing it seriously, he continues to invest his money on the Sanremo Festival making us believe that this is "real music", that only the most talented can sing on that stage ... but in the eyes of those behind years of apprenticeship and has traveled all over the world this "show" has become a circus, a farce. Thinking about it, circus artists actually demonstrate professionalism, courage, athleticism, they are capable and talented people, something that, on the other hand, we just don't see on the stage of the City of Flowers".
And he goes on to point out how: “San Remo showed off the worst of Italian producers' music. Not to mention that during the various evenings there was no homage to the “bel canto”, opera or Italian cinema. Sanremo has become a vulgar, obscene "fashion". We Italians have been able to export the best of our creativity to the world, we are considered "great", thanks to well-known brands such as Valentino, Versace, Gucci, Biagiotti.
Speaking of music, we have made opera, melodic and symphonic music known to a large audience, but then, absurdly, right in "our home" we propose the Sanremo Festival where we find, alas, it hurts to say, "the 'garbage', 'the waste' that Amadeus, as artistic director, is feeding us. All of this is shameful and depressing. Furthermore, the great singers of the past are always and only more successful because Italy wants that musical genre”
The tenor Cilia Faro who, for years, has been trying to promote and encourage the new generations who wish to become professional singers, regretfully underlines: “But what are we teaching our young people? Nothing, mediocrity. Maybe we need to start thinking that these "new talents" should be accompanied in the music world by offering them quality products and not "fast food" music. In order for them to become professionals, they must have solid foundations, know the history of music, melody, traditions and then start from there to propose their creativity, their emotions and their experience". “What about us industry professionals? What are we actually doing? – still continues the pop tenor – I think that the new generations do not have a "historical responsibility", while we adults have a moral obligation to tell and protect our musical history, our traditions not only in the musical field but in a more general sense".
And then referring to Rai, Cilia Faro underlines how: ” If RAI gave us musicians a space to explain music, we could make television viewers and radio listeners understand the difference that exists between a “true artist” and a commercial product that does nothing but destroy and disfigure the work of true artists, whether they are writers, painters, sculptors, singers, etc.”.
Like a flooded river, the pop tenor Jonathan Cilia Faro continues and, speaking of the guests present at the event, underlines: “What does Ferragni have to do with this Festival? An influencer? Who is she to be the spokesperson for women's thinking? Has anyone delegated it? Are you a positive role model, a woman who flaunts her status and success? Did you really start from scratch like thousands of women who don't even have a family to support them are trying to do? And Blanco? Can we perhaps take him as an example? Is this what we hope for our children? That they don't know how to manage their emotions at the age of 20 and that they can trample on the work of others and claim to "have fun" by making this mess? I don't think these characters should be part of the kermesse, Rai has 360 days to propose them in other contexts (but is it really necessary?)” .
And finally the tenor Jonathan Cilia Faro concludes by emphasizing that: “A television that loves its audience should not only offer differentiated programs but, since it charges a fee, should at least ensure that they are elegant, respectful and where kindness prevails. Those, on the other hand, who love profanity, vulgarity in general, then yes they should pay "a fee" and move to private channels. If we continue at this pace, if we don't all work to safeguard culture, chaos will take over."
