Mattarella, Benigni to attend Sanremo opening night
To mark 75th anniversary of Constitution says Amadeus
Redazione Ansa
(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 7 -
President Sergio Mattarella and Oscar winning director and comic actor Roberto Benigni will attend the opening night of the Sanremo Song Festival Tuesday, host and organizer Amadeus said ahead of the start of the annual musical extravaganza Tuesday. He said Mattarella and Benigni will be among the dignitaries and stars at the Ariston Theatre in the Ligurian Riviera 'city of flowers'. It will be the first time Mattarella will attend the fest, while Benigni is an old friend of the event. Amadeus said having the president and Benigni on the opening night would be the best way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Italy's postwar founding Constitution. Benigni will read an excerpt from the Constitution, Amadeus said. The 'Life is Beautiful' Tuscan comic, a Dante buff and Divine Comedy popularizer, has previously made a hit show on the Italian Constitution, called "The Most Beautiful (Constitution) in the World". "Having with us Italian President Sergio Mattarella is an opportunity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Italian Constitution and there was no better way to do so than by inviting Roberto Benigni," said Rai state broadcaster presenter Amadeus. "I have the pleasure and honour of announcing that for the first time in the festival's history this evening there will be President Mattarella. It is an important sign of (his) closeness with the entertainment world". Benigni has made several headline-grabbing appearances at the festival, the Italian entertainment world's biggest annual event. Veteran singer Gianni Morandi, one of this edition's co-hosts, will sing the national anthem on the opening night, Amadeus added. Giovanni Grasso, media and communications pointman at the presidential Quirinal Palace, said Mattarella's decision to attend the fest was to make an "homage to popular culture". He said it was fitting because "the Constitution speaks about promoting culture...and Sanremo is certainly the festival of popular culture".