Brescia Teen Wins Festival del Garda Singing Competition in Limone
Elena Tavernini, a seventeen-year-old from Remedello di Sopra, is the winner of the Festival del Garda. For the first time, a Brescia native secures the coveted singing trophy for performers, a competition now in its fifth edition, which reached its peak on Saturday evening in Limone.
In front of a large audience and a host of authorities (including Limone’s mayor and Deputy Mayor Risatti on the jury, as well as Brescia’s provincial tourism councilor Ermes Buffoli and Verona’s provincial councilor Davide Bendinelli), the young agricultural student and third-year conservatory piano student from Mantova captivated the crowd with her irresistible interpretation of Mi sei scoppiato dentro il cuore, a well-known song by Mina.
Results and Awards
A clear yet slender victory over the all-female Verona duo Sofia Marchiotto and Mare Furian (When you believe – Carey-Houston).
The podium was completed by Massimiliano Corrà of San Bonifacio (Live like horses – Elton John).
Nothing to do for the talented Anna Bonometti of Roncadelle, who previously finished third in 1998 and came in fourth with Hero by Mariah Carey.
At the bottom of the rankings were the Italian-born Di Dedda (Women in Love – Streisand), 22 years old from Desenzano and a student of Education Sciences, and Giampiero Tarzia, an 38-year-old from Valeggio (Cercami – Zero).
In the original songs category, the L’Arena award was won convincingly by Gilberto Lamacchi. Married and father of three daughters, the singer from Villafranca (VR) performed, accompanied by his flute, Bocca salata, a piece that echoes Francesco De Gregori’s style. Lamacchi received the scholarship to attend the Toscolano Umbro music academy of Maestro Mogol.
The Amici di Luciano Beretta award for best original song, created in memory of the Milanese author of major hits (Il ragazzo della via Gluck, Svalutathion, to name a few), was awarded to Bocca salata, composed by Antonello Zeni.
Judges’ Comments and Mentions
In the jury president Alberto Testa‘s motivation, a 1999 Oscar nominee, it was highlighted that “Zeni managed to tell in a bizarre and raw way the harshness of life with its inevitable struggles, fears (…) the continuous urging to move forward until a kind of subdued resignation because, by getting used to suffering, one no longer feels the pain.”
A special mention, within the scope of the Premio amici di Luciano Beretta, was awarded to Devid Martorana of Isola della Scala for the simplicity and disarming innocence of his song ‘lo ti sposerò’.
In the original songs section, behind Lamacchi was the Bergamasque Joseph Procino (Brivido d’estate) and followed by the Tuscan Renato Simone Donatoni (E’ finito così).
The roughly two-hour show was expertly and naturally hosted by Emanuela Fogliero, the popular presenter of Retequattro and this summer star of successful TV programs.
Spicing up the Limone audience was Mal, who also performed the evergreen Pensiero d’amore. The Caribbean rhythm was entrusted to the exuberant Cecilia Gayl and her four dancers, on the notes of El Pam Pam, a track that crowned her as the undisputed queen of Latin-American dance in 1998.
The Costa Rican show girl then performed El típitípero, another exhilarating hit.
Completing the lineup of special guests for the evening was Fanny Cadeo, one of the Veline “historical” figures (Striscia la Notizia, 1994 edition).
The Festival del Garda then featured the powerful voice of Elisa Antonelli, producer of Cantalago, along with dance troops Rernix and Gamblers, and the lively comedian from Milan’s Zelig, Giuseppe Braida, known from his appearance on Rai’s Una canzone per te.
Also on stage was Cristian Pighi, the winner of the last edition of the Festival with Eri così bella. The critics’ prize went to Giovanni Vangi, ambassador of the Homerus project.