(by Paolo Biamonte).
Last year the popular Sanremo song contest was a "fruit salad", while this year it will be a "mosaic", presenter Carlo Conti said on Monday.
"The second time is more difficult," said Conti, who will be presenting Sanremo for the second consecutive year at the Ariston theatre in the Ligurian coastal town next February.
This time round the artistic director is expected to remain faithful to his ability to reach the widest possible audience, while giving more attention to the new generation and also welcoming important celebrities back to the Sanremo stage. These include Patty Pravo, who will celebrate 50 years of her career at the Ariston, Enrico Ruggeri and the group Stadio.
However, the reappearance destined to attract greatest media attention is that of Morgan and his rock band Bluvertigo.
The singer-songwriter was excluded from Sanremo amid controversy in 2010 after he allegedly said in an interview that he made use of crack cocaine. There is a clear intention of focusing on the new wave of Italian musical production, with the duo Deborah Iurato and Giovanni Caccamo (winner last year of the section New Proposals), sure talents such as Lorenzo Fragola, Annalis and Francesca Michielin, the wager on Alessio Bernabei, former Dear Jack singer who has just begun a solo career and, in a move worthy of the best television, will compete against his former bandmates at Sanremo. The festival also makes a dutiful nod to the world of hip hop with appearances by Rocco Hunt and Clementino, one of the most interesting personalities on the Italian rap scene. Noemi and Arisa will appear alongside ZeroAssoluto, with Arisa returning after her appearance as co-presenter in the 2015 contest. Neffa, Irene Fornaciari, Valerio Scanu and Dolcenera all belong to the category of artists looking to relaunch their careers, while Elio e le Storie Tese will, as always, leave their mark of intelligence and originality on the festival.
The desire to create a cast that best represents Italian music is clear, and the ingredients are all there: from rock to hip hop, with contributions from singer-songwriters, historic names and the recognised interpreters of the new pop. Of course it will be necessary to listen to the songs in order to judge. In an attempt to repeat last year's success Carlo Conti has already announced a guest: actor and director Leonardo Pieraccioni, one of his long-standing friends.
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