Italy to hold benefit concert for flooding victims
A benefit concert has been announced for victims of the devastating flooding in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna area.
The Italy Loves Romagna event will take place at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, near Bologna, on 24 June in the wake of the flooding, which has left 13 people dead and thousands homeless, and has been described as the country’s worst disaster in a century.
Domestic artists including Blanco, Elisa, Elodie, Emma, Giorgia, Luciano Ligabue, Madame, Fiorella Mannoia, Gianni Morandi, Negramaro, Laura Pausini, Max Pezzali, Salmo, Tananai and Zucchero have been confirmed for the fundraiser, as the Italian music community unites to raise funds in support of Romagna and its inhabitants.
The show comes 11 years after Italia Loves Emilia, a fundraising concert held in 2012 to support the earthquake victims of Emilia Romagna. A presale starts tomorrow (30 May) on TicketOne, Ticketmaster and Vivaticket.
The event, which is being organised by Friends & Partners, Riservarossa, Vivo Concerti and Magellano Concerti, was announced by undersecretary for culture Gianmarco Mazzi.
“There are two objectives: to raise as many funds as possible and launch an invitation to spend the summer 2023 holidays in Romagna”
“There are two objectives: to raise as many funds as possible and launch an invitation to spend the summer 2023 holidays in Romagna, to bring life and help that splendid territory to recover,” says Mazzi. “Romagna is a wonderful land that has always evoked sun, joy and well-being, a place of the soul for the Italians, today hit hard.”
The 100,000-cap RCF Arena got up and running last year after its opening was delayed by two years due to the pandemic. Harry Styles will play the venue on 22 July as part of his Love On Tour European run.
The venue is operated by the SPV C.Volo network of seven enterprises and was built on unused land at the Reggio Emilia Airport, with audio company RCF acquiring the naming rights.
A separate fundraiser – Music Valley-Romagna Mia, Live Charity Concert – is also being planned for 5 August at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola, as part of its 70th anniversary of the motor racing venue.
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Mayor defends Springsteen over Italy gig criticism
The mayor of Ferrara has defended Bruce Springsteen after the star was criticised for not cancelling his show in the northern Italian city, amid devastating floods in the surrounding region.
Springsteen and The E Street Band performed a sold-out 50,000-cap concert at Parco Urbano Giorgio Bassani last night, promoted by Barley Arts, the group’s first of three dates in the Italy as part of their 2023 world tour.
However, there had been widespread calls to postpone the concert out of respect for the flooding in the Emilia-Romagna area, which has left 13 people dead and thousands homeless, and has been described by one politician as the worst disaster in a century. This Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at Imola was called off earlier this week due to safety concerns.
But speaking ahead of the Springsteen show, Ferrara mayor Alan Fabbri argued that cancelling the gig would not solve anything and only contribute to “more economic damage”.
In a Facebook post, he said: “I’m sorry if anyone might have thought that Ferrara was insensitive to the tragedy in Romagna just because they didn’t cancel The Boss’ concert. But I can assure you that as a former mayor of Bondeno, who lived the 2012 earthquake, on the front lines, I have never asked Italy or the region to stop championships, events and production of companies in solidarity with us.
“Firstly, because it doesn’t solve anything, except to create more economic damage to territories, workers and companies that have invested large sums for the event. Secondly, because it’s a level of demagogy that doesn’t belong to me.”
“I believe that all music, and especially at these levels, has the great power to unite people and sensibility from all parts of the world”
He added: “In Italy, there’s still a part of the public opinion that thinks that the world of events is not a sector equal to others, which one can safely do without, and because of this can be sacrificed at any occasion . In reality, it’s businesses and people who have suffered the burden of two years of Covid restrictions more than any other category, and it’s a shame that someone today has already forgotten that.
“I believe that all music, and especially at these levels, has the great power to unite people and sensibility from all parts of the world… May tonight’s music reach the flood affected populations with a single big hug.”
Barley Arts’ Claudio Trotta also discussed the decision to press ahead with the concert, saying the flooding had not hit Ferrara as badly as other cities, while the weather forecast was improving.
“It was not a red zone but an orange one,” he said, as per Radio Freccia. “We have had a great experience of people, companies and a lot of passion and love for one’s work which have allowed us today to be in a position – from the point of view of the show and the preparation of the arena – to be safe and rest assured that tomorrow, when we open the doors, the public will be adequately served and the show will take place regularly.”
Springsteen, who is represented by CAA, also plays Rome’s Circus Maximus on Sunday (21 May), returning to Italy on 25 July to perform at Monza’s Prato della Gerascia.
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