Industry

The highly anticipated 75th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival officially opened with veteran host Carlo Conti at the helm, accompanied by co-hosts Antonella Clerici and, in a historic move, Gerry Scotti from Mediaset. The opening night featured an intense lineup, with 29 competing artists taking the stage to perform their songs in front of an eager audience.

After an emotional tribute to the late composer Ezio Bosso and a brief audio issue, all 29 artists delivered their performances. By the end of the evening, the first partial ranking placed Brunori, Giorgia, Corsi, Cristicchi, and Achille Lauro among the top five contenders.

The Pope: "Music is a Tool for Peace"

Pope Francis weighed in on the power of music, emphasizing its role as a unifying and peaceful force. His message resonated deeply, reinforcing the festival's longstanding tradition of using music as a means of connection and harmony.

Jovanotti and Raf Bring the Energy

Adding to the night's excitement, Jovanotti and Raf took the stage, electrifying the audience with their performances that had the crowd dancing and celebrating music in its purest form.

Noa and Mira Awad’s Moving Rendition of "Imagine"

One of the evening's most touching moments came when Israeli singer Noa and Palestinian artist Mira Awad performed a deeply emotional version of John Lennon's "Imagine." Their rendition, sung in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, was a powerful call for unity and peace.

Following their performance, the two artists addressed the audience in Italian, stating, "As artists, our role is not to describe reality, but to imagine what we want to create. We envision a future where the entire human family can live in security, where prosperity and reconciliation prevail. We hope that in a year’s time, we will be celebrating a true peace agreement."