"Protect everywhere." Performing are Vinicio Capossela, his band, and Gabriele Chiesa, a 12-year-old from Cagliari with a boundless love for the guitar. An artistic blessing, perhaps: Gianluca Floris, tenor, passed away at 58 in 2022. Chance, or someone acting on its behalf, played a part. And on the stage of the Rocce Rosse Blues in Lanusei, something happened that has to do with the magic of music.
To appreciate this, we must line up the ingredients of yesterday's show. Since the first anniversary of his death, Gianluca Floris's friends have been organizing an evening of music in his memory. The event is called "Ovunque proteggi," after the 2006 song by Capossela. Gabriele (son of a friend of the tenor) is also performing. He wasn't supposed to be in Lanusei yesterday, but a friend of his father's was unable to attend and decided to donate the tickets. Thus, the very young guitarist landed in Ogliastra.
He's never separated from his instrument. And that afternoon, he was strumming in the lobby of the hotel . The same one where Capossela was staying: the musician was drawn by the notes of his song. He approached. The two began to chat. The conversation, inevitably, led to the story of Floris's commemoration, and the reason for choosing the name of the event. Then came a flash of inspiration: Capossela invited Gabriele to attend the sound check before the concert. Not a small thing, for a boy passionate about music. But there was more.
After a while, the singer-songwriter brought him on stage and handed him a guitar. Gabriele took it up. One, two, three pieces, including an arpeggio of "While My Guitar Gentle Weeps." Note after note, scales, increasingly complex harmonies. So much so that the young boy from Cagliari found himself "surrounded" by the band members, who exchanged glances and nods of satisfied approval. Capossela watched, fascinated: he listened while stroking his beard. He applauded. He sat down at the piano. He asked Gabriele to accompany him on guitar. The song: "Ovunque proteggi." The performance was a perfect success. So here's the proposal: "Let's play it together during the concert, tonight." That is, a few hours later. Experienced with trepidation by a twelve-year-old who wasn't expecting it, to the satisfaction of the audience who enjoyed the first part of the performance. Until the evening's star singer-songwriter called on Gabriele Chiesa for the final song: "Ovunque proteggi," precisely. What happened from that moment on is in the video. A little magic. Guided, perhaps, by the smile—certainly mocking—of Gianluca Floris.