The programme of songs to be performed at the 2011 Sanremo Song Festival Celebration of Italian Unity has been announced. The event, which will take place on 17th February, exactly one month before the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Vittorio Emanuele 11 of Piedmont-Sardinia as constitutional monarch of a united Italy, has already caused controversy because of a proposal by the organisers to include the partisan song, “Bella Ciao” and the fascist anthem, “Giovinezza”.
Now pop legend Gianni Morandi, who will present the festival, has admitted that the inclusion of these songs would have been divisive and also that there would have been organisational problems as many singers were happy to sing “Bella Ciao” but few were prepared to sing “Giovinezza”.
The revised programme will include Verdi’s “Va, pensiero", Toto Cutugno’s “L’Italiano” and other songs that Italians love and which represent their history. A CD of the songs will be released in the New Year.
