AL.MIN.
PERUGIA – A life as a successful manager between Italy, Europe and the United States but with Umbria always present. Fate wanted it that after decades in various parts of the country, the Old and New continents, Roberto Piccinelli returned to the green heart of Italy to take up an excellent position, that of general director of Umbria jazz.
«My connection with Umbria goes back a long way – she says – My mother’s parents were from Umbertide and at the end of the 1920s they emigrated to Rome in search of work and a future. Having settled in the capital, my grandfather found employment as a worker while my grandmother worked as a concierge in an apartment building. After many sacrifices, with their laboriously accumulated savings they managed to fulfill their lifelong dream: to buy an apartment in Umbertide, in via XX Settembre, behind the Garibaldi school. Every summer, once school was finished, we came for holidays in the Altotiber. It was a completely different world from that of the capital, simpler but much more welcoming and in some ways intriguing: among other things, I was also allowed to leave the house alone and be out and about even after dinner.”
Piccinelli remembers those days as «beautiful, intense and which had a strong impact on my personality. Right from the start I made friends with many kids my age with whom I built a deep relationship, an indissoluble bond. I think of Marco Sarti, Federico Rinaldi and Gianni Codovini and many others: I think above all of a great friend who unfortunately no longer exists, but who is and will always be in my heart. With them I experienced wonderful moments, such as holidays around Europe, evenings at the Giardino bar and in Piattaforma with the legendary jukebox, many 45s and numerous live concerts, including those of the very first editions of Umbria jazz.”
Now the green heart has returned to all intents and purposes part of Piccinelli’s life. «Since June – he says – my role has meant that I spend most of my time in Perugia. We have already met with all or almost all of our old friends and as usual it was an enormous pleasure to see each other again and discover how our affection has remained unchanged over the years. Although life has directed us along different paths, it is exciting to reconnect the thread of those memories after decades; when we were young and carefree, because at that age you could overcome problems and worries with a smile on your face and you could live in the moment.”
