“Life is the art of being together – it is so beautiful to open one’s self to others, meet people and understand each other instead of closing doors in each others’ face.”
These truly profound and artistic words were uttered yesterday by Italian superstar Claudio Baglioni during a press conference to launch his concert that will be held on Saturday at the Valletta Waterfront.
During the concert Baglioni will perform alongside fellow Italian heavyweights Gianni Morandi and Riccardo Cocciante, as well as Malta’s own Ira Losco, Ivan Filletti and Winter Moods.
The concert forms part of an activity created by Baglioni called O’Scià, that aims at making political forces, the media and public opinion aware of the phenomenon of migration.
O’Scià started off as a solo concert by Baglioni in Lampedusa five years ago and since then has attracted 150 artistes who get together in good will, as they are not paid for their performances, and evolved into a foundation. It is held in Lampedusa every year.
The next step is the Malta concert, which will be O’Scià’s first outside Italy.
Claudio Baglioni said thousands of people are forced to migrate because of the adverse conditions in which they are living, be it because of war or poverty. Besides governments and organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, artistes can also give a helping hand.
“Although we are not politicians or economists,” said Baglioni, “we can reach out to people and make them aware from our stages that the problem is real and needs to be faced. After all,” he added, “armies are also made of trumpeters.”
The foundation’s next projects are concerts in the Canary Islands and Libya. Speaking of the African country, Baglioni said it is caught in a difficult situation. On one side, Libya is the country from where many African migrants embark on their perilous journey across the Mediterranean, on the other, 1.4 million migrants from the Sub-Saharan region are currently living in the country.
Asked by this newspaper whether he will be visiting migrants in their detention centres, Baglioni said he is not planning to do so. “I have been to a centre in Lampedusa along with some members of the European Parliament; however, my role as an artiste is not in centres but on stage. I think I can give much bigger contribution to this cause by publicising the issue on stage.”
The Valletta Waterfront has certainly impressed the Italian singer who described it as one of the most beautiful places he has ever seen.
Both Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and Justice and Interior Affairs Minister Tonio Borg attended the press conference.
Dr Zammit Dimech said this concert further enriches this summer which has been packed with prestigious concerts. However, he said, this concert goes beyond the simple notion of entertainment as it has a strong humanitarian tinge.
Dr Borg said such concerts draw international attention to this human tragedy that leaves a yearly toll of 600 deaths, according to conservative estimates. He further explained that this tragedy does not only pertain to Malta, Italy or Spain as they most affected countries, but is a European problem.
The minister thanked the Italian government, especially Interior Affairs Minister Giuliano Amato and Culture and Cultural Activities Minister Francesco Rutelli for their cooperation in organising this event. He also announced that his Italian counterpart, Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, will be attending the concert.
The concert will be compered by Italian TV personality Fabrizio Frizzi and a surprise is certainly in store as Baglioni was very subtle in suggesting that a last minute entry will perform alongside him and his guests.