"When you sing in Russia, you can't help but imagine the images of Tolstoy"

An Italian pop superstar and a favorite of Russian audiences, singer Al Bano came to the SPIEF, where he was invited to speak to the forum participants. The artist often visits Russia and is not afraid to confess his love for our country. His memories of visits here are filled with accurate remarks, wise conclusions and warm nostalgia. And this visit, he says, is far from the last — the next one is scheduled in just a couple of months. Izvestia met with Al Bano and talked with him about love, politics and creativity.

"I sang for Putin, for Yeltsin, I sang for the great Russian people in Siberia"

— We are very grateful that you are with us, that you came to SPIEF from warm Italy. And the weather in St. Petersburg is unpleasant these days. Doesn't that scare you?

— I first came to Leningrad in June 1984. It was a truly memorable event. I came with my family — with my father, mother, children, and my wife, Romina Power. And it was a truly magical moment.

I remember that Romina didn't want to go, she resisted it. And when she turned on the faucet in the hotel and the rusty water started flowing, she got upset.: "And there's rusty water here too!"—"Romina, you're in Russia. It's clear that there should be some rusty water as a sign of welcome!"

In short, there was no water, there were no fruits that she wanted, a completely different climate. But everything was fixed in a very short time, thanks to the Italian consul in Leningrad. When she came to the USSR, she cried, and when we left, she also cried, but this time because she would no longer see the magical white nights.

St. Petersburg is a city that made a strong impression on me at first sight. The second look was in 1986. My daughter Kristel was born a year earlier, and we couldn't hold concerts. But when they arrived in Leningrad again, they gave 18 concerts at the Sports Palace (Sports and Concert Complex named after Lenin Street. — Ed.). And it was a special moment.

I remember the first evening when we entered the Sports Palace, there was dead silence, and I said, "I don't think anyone is here today." When you go to a concert in Italy, the audience feels it. Chaos, noise, and enthusiasm have already been observed for two kilometers. There was absolute silence here. We were walking through some kind of underpass, as if there was no one here at all today. Then, out of professional interest, I pulled back the curtain on the stage a little and saw from the hole that the hall was full. But the audience sat in religious silence. It's a scene I'll never forget.

— Why did you decide to come now, and not somewhere else, but to the International Economic Forum?

— Because if there is no beginning, I will never understand what the end means. There is one person responsible for organizing this forum, whom I know very well. He is Italian, but now he is more Russian and lives in Moscow. I contacted him and was invited. I came here to sing. I love St. Petersburg, I love the Russian people.

I sang for Putin, for Yeltsin, and for the great Russian people in Siberia and further across the country. When you sing in Russia, you can't help but imagine the images of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Tchaikovsky's music. This is not just a trip around the country, but a journey into the history, culture and beauty of your people.

— You love Russia, but it's kind of unfashionable today. Aren't you afraid that your fans in Europe and other countries of the world will be disappointed in you?

— I always respect people's thoughts, but I also don't underestimate my own. Because I'm human too. It is important to know the root of why this is so. I know that well. I have always been a supporter of peace, because I was born at the end of the Second World War. My mother spoke to me about this very deeply, and it was then that my desire for peace, always and everywhere, was born.

But there are good moments in the life of men, women, families, and people, as well as bad ones. Right now, I am absolutely convinced that this will end. And there will be joy for everyone.

"They called me on the phone and told me to be ready to sing on Red Square."

— Has the desire to go to Donbass and give a concert there in front of the fighters disappeared?

— I will perform concerts wherever I am invited. I noticed that the singer is a kind of doctor, he helps to relieve pain, relieve tension for a moment, for an hour, two. And I am happy that I remain in the soul of those who listen to me.

— Should an artist talk about politics, express his position? Or is his business art?

— It depends on the special interests in everyone's life, whether it's an artist, a worker or any other person.

— If there was an opportunity to hold a peace concert on Red Square, which you wrote about in the media, who would you like to meet and sing with?

— Who would I like to meet? Obviously, with Russian people. They called me on the phone and told me to be ready, because the moment will come when we will sing on Red Square. It will be a big concert for peace. I was asked to be prepared. This will happen in late August or early September. We will sing on Red Square about the peace that will come. And this is a very important moment in the life of any artist. You are being called to become a part of something new, to begin a new life cycle. It's fantastic. I am waiting for this event.

— You have performed at the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Russia has organized its own music competition, which is called an alternative — "Intervision". More than 20 countries will participate, even representatives of the United States will come. Maybe this is also some kind of harbinger of peace?

— Every step taken in favor of the desired peace will be a progressive step for humanity. And the more people who participate in this, the better. After all, music, as Nietzsche said, is necessary in human life. Because living without music would be a serious mistake.

And I haven't heard anything about Intervision.

— Your song "Felicita" is one of the hits of all time. What is the secret of such a hit? What do you need to sing to make history?

— I never thought of giving advice to others. When a person commits actions, he understands which side he should be on. I respect everyone's mentality. It is important to listen to your soul. There's always a hunger for positivity, for peace. First of all, we must ensure that the concept of "war" disappears from the human vocabulary. I hope that this will happen sooner or later. A person should never, for any reason, be killed in defense of something. I think the best victory in life is to achieve peace.