Sal Da Vinci in concert tonight in Reggio Calabria, at 10pm in Piazza Indipendenza, for the Reggine Nights of the feast of the Madonna della Consolazione, Patron Saint of the city. An evening that the Neapolitan singer, winner of the last Sanremo Festival, decided to dedicate to Anthea Ranieri, the 23-year-old girl who died on Friday in a motorbike accident on the Calopinace slip road, accepting the request of the mayor Francesco Cannizzaro in a video published on Instagram.
Bergamot and Reggio roots
«Welcome to Reggio Calabria, thank you for accepting this invitation», said the mayor, who recalled the artist’s origins: «Reggio blood flows in his veins, because Sal’s grandfather was from the province of Reggio Calabria». For this reason Cannizzaro, «in the name and on behalf of the entire city of Reggio and its province», gave Da Vinci a bergamot, «a symbolic fruit, which only grows in our latitudes», with a joke: «I’m sure, your determination also comes from this, because I believe that your grandfather ate a lot of bergamot». Then the request: «A few days ago, Anthea, a 23-year-old girl, passed away due to an accident. I ask you, and I am convinced that you will, to dedicate your entire concert this evening to this day of life that the road has broken.”
«I would like to hug his parents»
The singer’s response was immediate. «Things happen in our lives, joys and sorrows. Anthea is our daughter, Anthea is my granddaughter,” Da Vinci said. «I would like not only to dedicate this evening to Anthea, but to hug her parents. I can’t find the right words to make my closeness felt, but I do it through the songs I will sing this evening.”
The recognition of the city
The mayor also gave the artist a formal recognition from the city of Reggio Calabria: «Music preserves memories through time and, like roots, always knows how to find its way home. With the hope that Reggio Calabria, the land of your family origins, can always represent a place of the heart, in the sign of a bond that ideally renews you today”. «I feel a little at home this evening», Da Vinci replied, «I can only say thank you through my music with a special evening dedicated to Anthea and her family and of course to this land that belongs to me: half Neapolitan blood, half Reggio blood. This is also a gift, a gift that I give to my father.” And when asked if there will be other surprises for Reggio in the future: «Absolutely yes, I would be honored to share a beautiful journey of beautiful things with you».