A thousand spectators at the Teatro Comunale in Sassari. A thousand individual stories touched upon at one time or another by a Bertas song. Each drew emotions and memories from the six decades of activity of the Sassari-based band, the longest-running in Italy after I Nomadi, the most original not only for its emphasis on choral vocals but also for its ability to innovate and experiment beyond the playful pop of its early days with "Fatalità" and "Dondolo."
On stage were Marco Piras, Enzo Paba, and Mario Chessa, along with some of the band's current musicians and vocalists. Ideally, everyone who has played in the band since December 19, 1965, was there.
Saturday night was a memorable evening, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Bertas and the 35th anniversary of the Sardinia Jazz Orchestra. The 13 wind instruments of the ensemble, directed by Gavino Mele, brought new life to the songs, thanks also to Gabriele Comeglio's arrangements. Thus, in "Fatalità," the whistle of the chorus was replaced first by the trombone and then by the trumpet. The instrumental intro to "Comandante" was thrilling, and the support for that gem, "Segnore Deus," from "Sa Missa," a masterpiece that deserves to be rediscovered, was powerful.
The block-by-block setlist, introduced by actor Alessandro Gazale, didn't follow chronological order but was almost a random selection from the vast repertoire. "A mio padre piace Pantani" was the first quartet of songs, "Como cheria" was the third, and "Badde luntana," a piece that has made Sardinian music history, was the fourth block.
The evening opened with Alberto Salvucci's entertaining short film "Una faccia da cinema," featuring a soundtrack by the Sassari band. All proceeds from the evening were donated to the "Il Sogno" Association, directed by Don Gaetano Galia.
At the end, Enzo Paba made a date with his 70th birthday and emotionally recalled the students' welcome at the morning concert. Yes, because it's always Bertas time. No matter how old you are, among everyone's favorite songs, there's at least one by Bertas.
