Renzo Arbore e l’Orchestra Italiana, Teatro Sistina Roma 14/03/2009

A packed house (mostly with old folks and ex Italian movie stars) who took in this splendid three-hour concert with Renzo Arbore and his outstanding 15-piece band. Arbore entertained all of us with some traditional Neapolitan songs as well as Roman and American ones. The show actually began with scenes of Arbore’s concerts around the world, including China. This naturally made the Chinese ambassador happy as he and the director of the Japanese Cultural Institute of Rome were in the crowd. Arbore, an old master of musical diplomacy, managed to also muster up something in both Chinese and Japanese. He also wouldn’t quit as he came on for about four encores. No doubt Neapolitans are always touched by his melodic songs as he tours the entire world with this marvellous band (all pics by M. Rimati).