Also Taranto he will have his big concert. Uno Maggio Libero e Pensante returns on Wednesday for the eleventh edition. From 2pm, for twelve hours, they will perform, al Park of the Greek Wallsthe artists who accepted the appeal of the three artistic directors, Michele Riondino (present since the first year), Antonio Diodato And Roy Paci who have supported him since 2014. «In a dark moment like the one we are experiencing – declare the three artistic directors -, Uno Maggio Taranto wants to be more than ever a cry of resistance, civic presence, closeness to the movements that fight every day». An event organized from below, by those who believe in discussion, in meeting, in the importance of meeting and recognizing one another on a day of celebration which, now very often and for a long time, seems to have lost a real connection with reality.”
Riondino, how can music make a difference?
«It does it the moment it reaches an audience. Taranto is a platform, a stage protected by semi-anonymity. We have no media support and we are totally free, not subject to any censorship. The only censorship is ours towards the declared fascists who will never have space with us.”
What are your thoughts on the story of Antonio Scurati, whose monologue that should have led to «Che will be» on Raitre, today, April 25, was blacked out for editorial reasons?
“I’m more afraid of the context, those who reduce the writer’s monologue to an economic question, those who describe him as an outcast of society, a profiteer who had to do a little homework.”
Have you ever been censored?
«Here I am. Tg Uno, despite having received the press notes, never did a report on my film “Palazzina Laf”. It was never even mentioned. We held a press conference, I know there was interest, but then we learned that the directive was not to deal with it.”
The statement from the demonstration reads: “Peaceful dissent is fined, beaten and prosecuted, even when it is demonstrated by the youngest.” Did this happen to you too?
«To be beaten with a truncheon? Sometimes, as a boy.”
Uno Maggio Taranto is a self-produced festival, small compared to the Concertone at the Circus Maximus: has anyone told you no?
«Yes, but I’ll never say who, of course. My respect towards artists is infinite. Those who graced our stage loved us, as well as supported, defended and sided with us. There are those who preferred us, others not, but it’s normal. I haven’t tied it to my finger.”
Among the activities, on Monday, at 10am, the debate “Which job for which tomorrow” on the conflict between health and work in the midst of the climate crisis with the invitation to participate, among others, to ministers Raffaele Fitto, Adolfo Urso and Giancarlo Giorgetti, to the secretaries of the Pd, M5S, the Italian Left and the Greens. Memberships?
«From no one, only Schlein and Conte responded that they cannot be there because the deadline for submitting candidatures and lists for the European elections expires on May 1st».
A problem that afflicts Taranto is the poisoned air. Lorenzo is a child who died at the age of 5 in 2014 from a brain tumor contracted while he was a fetus. The mother worked in an office near the Tamburi district. The father demonstrated with the sign “How many more?”. What is the answer?
«We are resigned. Experts say that if the plant closed today, we would continue to have pollution-related problems for 10-15 years. Yet, we continue to talk about relaunching production, not closing polluting sources. We have proposed to the European Parliament, through the associations, a reclamation program that would commit the government to the training of four thousand redundant workers. We would have work for 30 years. The example is Bagnoli, where the reclamation began after years of wasted public money and today the value of the houses has increased. In Rione Tamburi the price for 90 square meters is 15 thousand euros. And no one wants them.”
His film has won five nominations for the David di Donatello which will be awarded on Friday.
«And my character, Caterino Lamanna, won the Mazzacurati Award. They are beautiful goals. “Palazzina Laf” has given me a lot and that’s already good. I enjoy this moment.”
