Stefano Bollani and Valentina Cenni: “Songs and (many) kisses”

Some have called it (rightly) the program that was missing, some the music that curates (rightly, once again), some the most beautiful couple in the world (“and we are sorry for the others”). To have to use their words is a “beautiful experiment” that would not have taken place without the lockdown. Why not in time of a pandemic, Stefano Bollani – pianist, composer and much more – would have been around playing, while his wife Valentina Cenni – actress, author and much more – would have been somewhere else in the theater.

So if you can’t get out of the tunnel, you just have to furnish it. After all, it is also their philosophy of life.

Stefano and Valentina brought the furniture to a studio and transformed it into the living room of the house. Address, Via dei Matti Number 0, that is a daily strip at 20.20 on Rai3. A place full of music, warmth, friends, stories to tell, and a pinch of madness. And now that the last episode is about to arrive, it is allowed to celebrate: «We are very happy, we have sown a lot. The garden is very rich and full of colors », says Valentina.

Who lives with you in via dei matti?
S: «Besides us, many guests. It is a very populated street. If all goes well, madmen become heretics or even saints. Like St. Francis, an extraordinary madman ».

For the first time on TV together. How did you face this challenge?
S: “Is inner listening very important, deepening?”
V: «We prepared ourselves by giving each other lots of kisses, singing and enjoying life. What we like most is sharing the beauty, the gratitude we feel for this life ».

Who came up with the idea to bring your records, books, objects?
S: «To Valentina. So we feel everything really ours ».

What would you have wanted to bring and could not?
V: “The bed, so we would have rested every now and then.”
S: «Our stones, at home we are surrounded by crystals that flood us with special energy. A geode that was given to us by our friends for our wedding ».

What is your mantra?
V: «Bring out the beauty, everywhere. Every event that happens allows you to go through a great pain, but through that pain you can discover something fundamental for your path ».

Did you arrive at this awareness together?
S: “It was born over time, it is as if we were each other’s beacon to explore hidden sides of one’s inner self.”

Is it true that Marisa Laurito was your cupid?
S: «Ten years ago. We were at the airport: I went to Palermo to play Gershwin, she to act Add a seat at the table, she introduced us.
V: «She turned to me and said ‘This is the man of your life’. At the beginning I was a bit torn … ».
S: “Then my tour manager is also involved, in those days in Palermo we met often”.

Having to choose one, what’s your song?
S: «We are madly in love with Brazilian music. For one thing, Brazilian watercolor».

Is singing together also a home habit?
V: “We started doing it much more often during the first lockdown, when we found ourselves locked in the house. Singing has become a kind of cure. I also had pneumonia, not from covid, and they really advised me to sing ».
S: “Singing together has become our oxygen.”

Have you been together for 10 years, have you learned something new with this new project together?
V: «I let myself go and not be afraid of being judged by others. I am always looking for absolute perfection, Stefano, on the other hand, is very good at going even when you are not perfect ».
S: «I really enjoyed being in close contact with Valentina, with a creative mind. Build a program in detail. It helped me clean up. Sometimes I like things out of attitude, but she made me ask “do you really like it?”, “Are you really convinced”? ».

What will live music be like when it returns?
S: «Music is something that gives you joy on its own, but also something to share. It is a rite, probably primitive men communicated by singing, it is an enormous sharing tool. The best thing is to be together to make music in a theater or around the fire ».