The special 2022 Golden Candlestick was awarded to the Bertas. The ceremony took place in Sassari and during the evening other awards were given: the Golden Candlestick to the Sassari who has lived abroad for the longest time and returns to the Faradda, which this year went to the young Francesco Bellinzis - born in 1983 - who emigrated from 12 October 2012 to Barcelona, and the Silver one for those who live on the continent, delivered to Filippo Usai, born in Sassari on 31 January 1948, who emigrated since 3 June 1960 and resident in Turin.
The Bertas - Mario Chessa, Enzo Paba and Marco Piras - retraced the history of the famous band: "We formed in the summer, in 1965, but a few months passed for the baptism of the stage: until December 19 of that same year. Since then our history has not been so different from the stories of all men, musicians included, and has alternated carefree moments, sometimes exciting, with others difficult, even very, and uncertain when not tiring. But we went on ”.
The group was born by the will of the brothers Antonio and Carlo Costa and had taken part in the Sardegna Canta music competition in 1966, then the report to RCA and the first recording contract. In 1973 the decision to sing in Sardinian, the song was "Badde Lontana", which is still one of the greatest hits today.
Antonio Costa left the group in 1979 to direct the Luigi Canepa Choir. Carlo Costa in December 2016.
In 1993 came the publication of "Amistade" and "Como Cheria".
Among the best known collaborations are those with the Balentes, Beppe Dettori, the Corale Canepa, the Cordas et Cannas, Paolo Fresu, Mark Harris, Piero Marras, Franca Masu, Marisa Sannia, Gavino Murgia and the Tazenda.
(Unioneonline / ss)