The 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival, broadcast from tomorrow to Saturday 15 February, opens with the first traditional press conference, from the Press Room of the Ariston Roof.
The artistic director Carlo Conti, who returns to Sanremo for the fourth time after the three-year period 2015-2017, presents the week with the co-hosts of the first evening Antonella Clerici and Gerry Scott : «In my three editions there are many moments in my heart: among all when I hosted Sammy Basso and Ezio Bosso . I will open the Festival with a moment dedicated to Ezio, with the notes of the song he played at Sanremo and his words that struck me a lot. He said that “music, like life, is made in only one way, together”».
"Yesterday we rehearsed and we had a lot of fun," Clerici said. " If we can convey even a little of the friendship and lightheartedness that binds us, it will already be a great result. We don't have to prove anything ." "I'm the Italian who has hosted Sanremo the least , even my doorman did one," jokes Gerry Scotti. "I was welcomed with great affection, I'm happy." "They are two pillars of TV," adds Conti. "It's a gift to have them by my side. For me there would have been a fourth element on that stage: Fabrizio Frizzi ."
As for the presence tomorrow of the Israeli singer Noa and the Palestinian Mira Awad, who will sing Imagine: "I think that certain topics can be discussed with music. That's why instead of doing a long monologue on the war I wanted to call two artists, the Israeli Noa and the Palestinian Mira Awad, to sing Imagine and say no to war."
On television times: «I'm not looking for controversy, but I want to do things with great respect and speaking to everyone. I want to respect the television times and finish early. The evenings with 29 singers will take us around 1.20 in the morning, at least on the final evening allow me to get to 1.30/1.40, but for this I wanted to summarize . I think that sometimes a word is stronger than a long statement».
When they asked him to host the Festival "I said no several times. Then I felt the affection of the record companies, of Rai. I thought of my son, who was one year old when I hosted my first Festival, and who is eleven today. Amadeus' numbers are unbeatable, together with Fiorello they hosted record-breaking editions, one of which was extremely difficult, with the Ariston empty due to the pandemic. I won't care about the ratings, I believe at this point in my career I don't have to prove anything to anyone, especially to myself ".
He quickly dismisses the gossip surrounding the event, especially after Fabrizio Corona's revelations: "I host Sanremo, not Sanremo Islands."
Meanwhile, the city is filling up with singers, even Mahmood and Jovanotti have already arrived on the Riviera for rehearsals. On the final evening, there will also be Edoardo Bove, midfielder for Fiorentina - "Coincidentally my favorite team," says Conti - struck down by an illness on the field on December 1st.