Why we sing
There were over a hundred and fifty of us. It blows my mind when I see that, and there’s always a moment during concerts when I turn around. Just to look. A hundred and fifty people, all equally volunteer, choosing to give their voices, and their hearts, and believing it was worth it. (…)
Christ in disguise
There must have been at least sixty of us in the choir tonight, and it’s always powerful when there are that many of us; the audience is quickly drawn in. But right at the start of the concert, a bloke —a homeless man— started hanging around in the middle, between the audience and us, making strange gestures, it was a bit awkward having him there (…)
La traiettoria calante
Pietro Giannini, on the collapse of the Morandi Bridge (Genoa, 2018). Alone on stage, in his early twenties. His age is surprising, it’s true. [But] the audience is listening, and the road, behind him, on a giant screen, goes by. We know where all this is leading, and we’d rather not think too much about it . (…)
Singing in the rain
The street? Empty. Yet, as the show begins, it seems as though our voices are like a campfire in the night. People automatically stop, draw closer to warm their hands, their souls, their hearts (…)
Willy
Friday, half past eight, Plaza de la Catedral. It is drizzling. The square is deserted; now and then, the footsteps of a passer-by echo in the night, then disappear like a mirage. Little by little, some shadows glide across the cobblestones, and beneath the remains of the Roman wall (…)
The Cottolengo
Patients, sisters and volunteers live together day by day, then and I believe that the word that best describes this historic institution is joie de vivre. Even though the work is hard (…)
A year later
Right now, beautiful. At peace. An hour ago I was getting off the subway and, sweating, I was meditating on the word "overwhelmed." I find it hard not to let myself go lately. Tonight, I lied to everyone. (…)
Morning violence
‘You're nothing but a coward’, I hear myself saying. A stillborn thing, hidden, all alone, curled up inside. I laugh when I talk about things that don't interest me (…)
The blue balloon (the story)
It’s hard to be small because people get mean. ‘You see, son’, said a father to his boy the other day, as the three of us were waiting for the lift. ‘Work hard at school, otherwise you'll end up like her.’ Oscar Wilde said (…)
‘Historias del gas’
This morning, as I started on the rooftops, I didn't have anything to write with, and it was really itching me. So I started ringing doorbells, and in barely an hour, I had already collected a nice haul (…)
La chica del gas
Barcelona isn't what I imagined. Crowded, noisy, and relentless. No matter what, it never takes a break. Going out in the morning during rush hour feels like being swallowed by the beast. (…)
