Rome’s Olimpico soccer stadium is to host a benefit concert on Saturday, June 20, with proceeds going to the victims of the recent earthquake in the country’s Abruzzo region.
The event will be known as the “Corale per il popolo d’Abruzzo” (“Choral for the People of Abruzzo”) and it is being organized by the F&P concert agency. The Italian stars who have so far signed up include Renato Zero, Claudio Baglioni, Pino Daniele, Fiorella Mannoia, Antonello Venditti and Ivano Fossati, with others expected to join them. Tickets will go on sale on May 18, although the prices have yet to be announced.
As previously reported (Billboard.Biz, April 28), an all-female benefit concert for Abruzzo will be held at Milan’s soccer stadium the following day. “Amiche per l’Abruzzo” (“Female Friends for Abruzzo”) is being organized by Live Nation.
Indeed, the Italian music industry has organized several initiatives in response to the April 6 earthquake, which claimed 297 victims. A number of benefit recordings have been made, including one of Mauro Pagani’s song “Domani”(“Tomorrow”), which featured some 50 established Italian artists, and a version of Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend,” by the finalists in the Rai 2 talent show, “X-Factor.” The latter went to number one in the country’s singles/download charts.
