Farewell to David Riondino: the last embrace between art, poetry and ‘Maracaibo’

Farewell ceremony tra poetry e emotionbut also with a few smiles and space forirony. Just in the style he would have liked,David Riondinol’actor, singer-songwriterand much more who died last Sunday, March 29, at the age of 73. Thefuneral nella Church of the Artists in Romehe saw the embrace of his entire world that gathered around him and his family in the saddest moment. In the front rows his wife Giovanna, his daughter Giada,Sabina GuzzantiRiondino’s companion for many years. And thenStefano Bollaniwith his wife Valentina Cenni. But more secluded there are many other well-known facesVincenzo Salemme a Luigi Manconi.

C’è Paolo Hendelwho, at the end of the ceremony, read theartists’ prayer. And then he said: “A few days ago David sent me this song sung by him, and there is a lot of him in the translation too, the ‘Ballad for the death of the father'”. The intervenespoet Davide Rondoni: “As the man of irony that you are, you decided to die on the day of Palm Sunday in which so many hosannas and the very name David rose into the sky” and he concluded, drawing laughter from the church: “When God gets bored between Saint Peter talking about our troubles and the Madonna who fortunately prays for us, he will say ‘call Riondino, I want to make a bit of intelligent mess too, my beloved jester'”.

Stefano Bollaniplayed apoignant tango on the piano. Sabina Guzzanti ha letto la poem ‘The Bathhouse’moved, where “the neat beds resembled cemeteries”. And then, to dilute it, it was sung ‘Maracaibo‘, very popular songwritten by Riondino in 1981 and which over the years has become a real oneiconic hit of the 80s. Tributes and dedications from lifelong friends between sentiment and irony, between emotion and a few smiles, to say agoodbye sweet al minstrel poet Davide Riondino.

The words of the priest

“‘I did what I had to do, I want to go’ David told me the last time we saw each other, he was ready.” So thepriest Guidalberto Bormolini durante la funeral ceremony per David Riondino, actor e singer-songwriterin the crowdedChurch of the Artists in Rome. “He was afree manhe lived his life freelyspirituality– he continued – he had acandor…he never lost hisideals. He was greatdreamer of good. In such a world, David’s candor will be missing. It was apoet at hearttrueculturecultivated good, why don’t we try to do the same? Thereillnessit had made him understand what is truly worth in life. David had begun to satiate himself with life, with culture, with the love of his partner whom he adored. They are – the priest underlined – theinvisible thingswhich is worth investing in. Choosing between visible and invisible, this is the challenge. Choosing to stay on the invisible side that no one can take away from us”. Then, he concluded the homily with a ‘recommendation’ to God: “we recommend youramicoand yoursartist“.