{"id":8844,"date":"2024-11-11T16:52:34","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T15:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/?p=8844"},"modified":"2025-02-10T16:36:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T15:36:11","slug":"histoire-festival-sanremo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/histoire-festival-sanremo\/","title":{"rendered":"The history of the Sanremo Festival: a journey to the heart of Italian music"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Italian Song Festival, now known as the Sanremo Festival (in Italian Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo<\/em>) is Italy's oldest music festival and was the inspiration for the creation of Eurovision. In fact, it was while attending Sanremo that an official from the European Broadcasting Union had the idea of launching Eurovision in 1956!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broadcast and organised by Rai since 1951, it is the most watched programme on Italian public television. It was joined by PUBLISPEI between 1979 and 1988 and again in 1992 and 1993. OAI joined Rai from 1989 to 1991.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sanremo Festival is one of the most important musical events of the year for Italians. The festival is not only a celebration of Italian music, but also a cultural phenomenon that has shaped the country's music industry over the decades. Here's a look back at the fascinating history of a festival that has never ceased to make its mark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ariston Theatre, home of the Sanremo Festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The beginnings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Sanremo Festival was created in 1951 by a committee of the Sanremo municipality, with a central role played by Giulio Razzi, a director of the Rai. The initial idea came from Pier Busseti, then director of the Sanremo casino, who wanted to attract more visitors to the town by creating a large-scale musical event, as Sanremo, like many seaside resorts, was popular during the summer season but quieter in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pier Busseti quickly realised the importance of television in promoting his festival, so he managed to involve the Rai from the very first edition. It was held for the first time on 28 January 1951 with just three participants. In its early years, the Sanremo Festival was broadcast on Rete Rossa (Rai Radio 1). It was not until 1955 that it was broadcast live on Italian Rai. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to point out that the Sanremo Festival was not created to select Italy's representative at Eurovision. Although Sanremo was first used as a selection for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, it is only since 2015 that the winner of Sanremo has been systematically invited to represent Italy at Eurovision. Prior to that date, the Italian selection process was often internal, with the Sanremo winner sometimes not taking part in Eurovision, or even the artist chosen performing a different song from the one he or she presented at Sanremo. Sanremo is first and foremost a cultural event for Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Eros Ramazzotti - Sanremo Festival 1984 (Nuove Proposte)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The festival was held at the Casino de Sanremo until 1977, then at the Ariston theatre on the Ligurian Riviera from 1977 onwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, the festival has evolved to showcase artists from all styles, all regions of Italy and even international artists. The careers of many of them have taken off thanks to Sanremo: Toto Cutugno<\/a>Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti, Andrea Bocelli, M\u00e5neskin<\/a>, …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Sanremo Festival is considered one of the biggest pop music festivals in Italy. Every year, over 10,000 spectators flock to Sanremo to attend the week-long competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 1993 and 1998, then in 2001 and 2002, and finally between 2015 and 2018, some participants are selected during the \"Sanremo Giovani \u00bb\" programme (reserved for emerging singers) usually held at the end of the previous year. Since 1998, the \"Area Sanremo \u00bb\" competition has also acted as a partial selection for the \"Nuove Proposte \u00bb\" section.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Over time, the festival has also evolved to include international guests, reinforcing its cosmopolitan character. Over the years, global stars such as Sting<\/em>, Elton John<\/em>, Tony Bennett<\/em>or Lionel Richie<\/em> were invited to take part, giving the festival a more global dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candidate selection process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The festival is open to artists wishing to sing songs in Italian and Italian dialect. Artists must submit their songs to a panel of judges who assess their performances and compositions. Online applications for the standard selection are opened a few months before the Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The songs with the most potential are selected by a music committee made up of professionals. This committee is co-chaired by the director of Rai. These will then go on to an audition where 24 songs will be selected to compete at Sanremo.<\/p>\n\n\n

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5th Sanremo Festival in 1955<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Organisation of the Sanremo Festival and voting system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, the Sanremo Festival takes place every year in February, over four consecutive nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n