A beautiful repertoire of the great Lucio literally captivated the audience present for the occasion.

The atmosphere was incredible at the Pradasc di Lanzada.
The square was packed, with seating sold out for quite some time. I don’t know how many people were there, but the 200 chairs set up were certainly not enough.

Those who arrived late made do: chairs brought from home, blankets on the grass, some comfortably sitting on the ground just to not miss even a note. And then that crisp air typical of Valmalenco: in the city, people were gasping from the heat, whereas there, at one point, a jacket was pulled out. A perfect climate to enjoy two hours of music without melting away.

The setlist made everyone sing, truly everyone. Because when Il mio canto libero, La collina dei ciliegi, Emozioni or La canzone del sole, Pensieri e parole, Dieci ragazze, Acqua azzurra  acqua chiara start, it’s impossible to remain silent. The band, which I had already heard last year in Villa di Tirano, confirmed to be technically flawless and capable of transmitting energy and emotions.

And then, in the middle of the evening, he arrived, the special guest, Mario Lavezzi, author of timeless hits like Vita by Lucio Dalla and La Luna bussò by Loredana Bertè, In alto mare, La canzone del sole, il primo giorno di primavera. The aura of the great songs he has signed follows him; time passes, but his songs remain indelible in the minds of the people who sing them along with him.

Lavezzi is a giant, and we should be truly proud to have had him in Valtellina.

And then, as always happens, I sneak into the backstage, and in this case, I had the privilege of having a beautiful chat with him before the concert.

A down-to-earth man, smiling, full of anecdotes. He told me about when, at the age of ten, he received his first guitar from his father and how from there he began to write songs that today are part of the soundtrack of entire generations. He talked about his first band formed in '63, the Trappers, his numerous collaborations, and I discovered a world. A person of great depth and humility whom I had the honor of meeting.

I went to look for the songs he collaborated on, and if I make the list, the article would become very, very long…

It was a truly successful evening that filled my heart. Thanks also to an impeccable organization, curated by the artistic director Mario Mariani in collaboration with the Consorzio Turistico Sondrio e Valmalenco and the Comune di Lanzada.

An event also promoted by Calendario Valtellinese that I couldn't miss along with my friends.

We concluded the evening by singing a verse of Battisti together with a very charming Francesco Patella, laughing and having fun like kids and greeting artists who love to talk and share with the audience.

If you missed it, what a shame... but remember: the next time an event like this comes to Valtellina, get up and go. Because live music, the real one, the one played by those who have lived the history of Italian songs, leaves you with an energy that no playlist could ever give you.