Canzonissima returns this evening, Saturday 21 March, a historic title of the then National Program which for years has enthralled millions of viewers.
The new edition, broadcast for six weeks, features an original and contemporary format, capable of celebrating the great heritage of Italian music by putting the artists and their stories at the centre.
THE SINGERS
The program, hosted by Milly Carlucci live on Rai 1 from the Rai Auditorium of the Foro Italico, sees the participation of great names who have marked the history of Italian song and continue to enthuse the public: Riccardo Cocciante, Arisa, Elio e le Storie Tese, Elettra Lamborghini, Enrico Ruggeri, Fausto Leali, Fabrizio Moro, Irene Grandi, Jalisse, Leo Gassmann, Malika Ayane, Michele Well done, Paolo Jannacci and the tenor Vittorio Grigolo.
THE VARIOUS EPISODES
Each episode is built around a specific theme:
• The song of the heart: a song by other artists that inspired their career.
• Dedication: a song by others to dedicate to someone or something special.
• The first success: the piece from one's repertoire with which the relationship with the public began.
• Sanremo's revenge: a song that didn't win at the Festival, but remained in people's hearts.
• The song I wish I had written: a loved and admired song that every artist would have wanted to sign.
• Your greatest hit: the signature song of your career.
Each performance, introduced by a clip in which the artist tells the reason for his choice and the value that song had in his human and professional journey, will provide emotions, transforming the performance into a moment of personal as well as musical storytelling. At the end of each episode, the Canzonissima of the episode will be proclaimed and will advance to the final episode.
In the final episode there will be a further round in which all the winning “canzonissime” of each episode will be re-proposed in order to then crown the Canzonissima 2026.
THIS EVENING'S SONGS
Enrico Ruggeri – “Far from eyes” by Sergio Endrigo (1969)
Fabrizio Moro – “My free song” by Lucio Battisti (1972)
Leo Gassmann – “Un giorno crede” by Edoardo Bennato (1973)
Michele Bravi – “Ti lascio una canzone” by Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni (1985)
Fausto Leali – “Pregherò” by Adriano Celentano (1962)
Malika Ayane – “Empty City” by Mina (1963)
Irene Grandi – “Mi ordini in mente” by Lucio Battisti (1969)
Elettra Lamborghini – “Bella vera” by 883 (2001)
Vittorio Grigolo – “Nessun dorma” (from Puccini’s “Turandot”, first performance 1926)
Elio e le Storie Tese – “Rock'n'Roll Robot” by Alberto Camerini (1981)
Jalisse – “It will be because I love you” by Ricchi e Poveri (1981)
THE JURY
Commenting on the performances and contributing to the choice of the Canzonissima will be three voting members: a panel of personalities from the world of entertainment, the “magnificent 7”: Claudio Cecchetto, Francesca Fialdini, Pierluigi Pardo, Riccardo Rossi, Simona Izzo, Caterina Balivo and Giacomo Maiolini, the singers themselves – who will be able to vote for their favorite song excluding their own – and the public, involved through social media.
Accompanying the singers in the strictly live performances will be a 25-piece orchestra directed by Maestro Luigi Saccà; some performances will be enriched by a ballet whose choreography is entrusted to Matteo Addino.
ON AIR
Tonight in prime time on Rai1
