The Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut presents Ciao Franco!, an original and deeply heartfelt homage to the great Sicilian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, interpreted by jazz singer and composer Anthus. Like Battiato, Anthus is Sicilian, and in this project he revisits some of his most beloved songs through the refined lens of contemporary jazz: not simple covers, but living reinterpretations, shaped by improvisation, modern dynamics, and a profound attention to the text. Melodies steeped in minimalism, spirituality, and poetic vision find new light in the elegant and introspective atmospheres that define Anthus’ artistic identity, giving rise to a musical dialogue that unites two worlds sharing sensibility, imagination, and a common Mediterranean heritage.
Ciao Franco! thus becomes a dialogue between two universes: that of Battiato, a master of musical cross-pollination and philosophical vision, and that of Anthus, an artist who uses the voice as both narrative and sonic instrument, capable of moving from jazz to Mediterranean music and even into vocal experimentation. The result is an intense, respectful, and surprising concert that offers the audience the emotional power of Battiato’s songs, filtered through a contemporary and deeply personal musical language.
Biographical Note
Anthus is a Sicilian-born jazz singer, composer, and arranger. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in Dublin and has lived and worked in Catalonia for many years. His discography includes original projects such as Radici, dedicated to Mediterranean musical heritage; Profundament Jazz, where he gives voice to celebrated jazz instrumental pieces; and Calidoscòpic, which defines an eclectic aesthetic blending contemporary jazz, Mediterranean sonorities, and vocal experimentation. With Acrobatic Heart (2021), he further refined an intimate and elegant musical poetics. Appreciated on international stages, Anthus is known for his expressive strength and his ability to renew tradition through a versatile, distinctive voice.
Franco Battiato was one of the most innovative and influential Italian singer-songwriters. Born in Ionia (now Riposto, Sicily) in 1945, he traversed decades of music with a vast body of work spanning art-pop, electronics, minimalism, and classical influences, weaving together philosophical, spiritual, and poetic reflections. The author of many iconic songs — including La cura, Centro di gravità permanente, Prospettiva Nevski, and E ti vengo a cercare — he left a profound mark on Italian and international music culture. He passed away in 2021 at his residence in Milo, on the slopes of Mount Etna.