Italian singer Achille Lauro has
sparked a blasphemy row in Catholic Italy by 'baptising' himself
during his performance on the opening night of the Sanremo Song
Festival Tuesday.
"It was a pitiful exhibition, which derided and profaned the
holy symbols of the Catholic faith in a vapid and sacrilegious
context," said Sanremo Bishop mons. Antonio Suetta.
But the former parish priest on the migrant stepping stone
island of Lampedusa and current priest at Racalmuto near
Agrigento, Don Carmelo La Magra, said: "Can it be poossible that
all your Catholicism comes out only when Achille Lauro sings? Be
scandalised by other things, and have a laugh every now and
then!".
Presenter Amadeus on Tuesday night beat his own record, set in
2020, for a Sanremo song festival opening night TV audience.
Some 10.911 million Italian tunes in to the annual extravaganza
of song and talent, notching a share of 54.7%. That compared to
10.058 million viewers and a share of 52.2% in 2020, when the
presenter first took on the demanding job of host and chief
organizer.
Highlights of the first night included the guest return of last
year's winners Maneskin, the Roman rock band that went on to
Eurovision and US glory, and a candid appearance by tennis star
Matteo Berrettini who got to the Wimbledon final last year and
lost in the Aussie Open semi to eventual winner and 21-time slam
winner Rafa Nadal.
There was also a star turn by showman Fiorello.
2020 winner Mahmood and his new younger partner Blanco topped
the first night competition, with Laura Pausini among the big
names appearing Wednesday, along with a monologue by antimafia
writer Roberto Saviano.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
