SABATO MUSICALE

A seasonal offering tonight:

Franco Battiato - Tiepido aprile

PRIMA RI PARRARI...

Prima ri parrari mastica 'i palori.

Before you speak, chew your words.

- Sicilian proverb

Oh dear, oh dear - it all began so well! Some of you may remember that in November, the then newly elected Governor of Sicily, Rosario Crocetta, announced that he wanted a "committee of intellectuals" to be involved in governing the region. Among those he appointed were the singer and composer Franco Battiato, as Regional Councillor for Culture with Special Responsibility for Tourism and Entertainment, and the scientist Antonino Zichichi as Councillor for Cultural Heritage.

These were popular appointments but, sadly, both men were removed from their posts yesterday, Mr Zichichi mostly for absenteism but also because of policy disagreements with Mr Crocetta and a possible conflict of interests regarding the physicist's son. However, Mr Zichichi may continue to serve the regional government as a consultant.

It is the dismissal of Franco Battiato that has generated the most headlines, as it came as a direct result of comments he made at the European Parliament in Brussels, where he used a very offensive word, particularly to women, to describe Italian parliamentarians who were, he said, "ready to do anything". The comments caused shock all over Italy and Mr Crocetta clearly felt that an apology was not enough. Mr Battiato said that he had not been referring to the current parliament but the remarks have been interpreted as an insult to the institution itself and, therefore, to democracy.  

Personally, I don't think Mr Crocetta had an alternative but perhaps the problem with a "committee of intellectuals" is that its members may be too intelligent for politics?

"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."

Franco Battiato - La canzone dell'amore perduto

SABATO MUSICALE

A beautiful song about spiritual and social renewal from our new Regional Councillor for Tourism and the Performing Arts, Franco Battiato:

Franco Battiato - Testamento

UN VENTO CALDO?

The newly elected Governor of Sicily, Rosario Crocetta, appointed singer and composer Franco Battiato as his Regional Councillor for Culture on Tuesday, saying that Sicilians should love their land more, spend more on culture,work together to build a new Sicily and be proud of their identity. 

Franco Battiato, who was born in Riposto [Catania Province] said he didn't want a salary and initially gave the impression that he regarded the position as a part-time one as he didn't want to give up his music.  This remark was seized upon by the media and it was soon being said that the singer was only going to be a kind of "cultural consultant". Today, however, Mr Crocetta made a further announcement in which he confirmed that Mr Battiato will have special responsibility for tourism and entertainment in the region and the singer  says that he intends to organise events which will really put Sicily on the world map.

Mr Crocetta has made it clear that he wants a "committee of intellectuals" to be at the heart of regional government in Sicily as "a place which doesn't value its intellectuals is doomed".

I totally agree and hope that Mr Battiato, who doesn't want to be called Assessore but just plain "Franco", will soon have us all dancing:

Franco Battiato - Voglio vederti danzare 

Alice - Il vento caldo dell'estate  [The Warm Wind of Summer ]  [Alice , Battiato, Messina, Pio.]