Mario Venuti. My CityLife, estate 2011

Mario Venuti’s idea of Catania is not “classical”, it derives from a mixture of suggestions and personal habits: “A glass of almond granita whit a spot of coffee – he tells us –  best taken at Grand Caffee Tabacco, near Piazza Duomo, in via Etnea at number 28. In my opinion, it is one of the best places in the town centre”.

Puttin aside all sightseeing items – monuments, churches and other sites which do not need any further introduction – Mario heads directly to the seaside: “I suggest you to loan a fisher boat at the little harbour of Acitrezza to spend some hours on the rocks of Lachea island. And on the way back, well, you must take a glass of granita at one of the village’s bars”. We find out Mario is more keen on granitas than ice-creams!

And what about the night? “A night out at the Mercati Generali, on the outskirts of Catania: it is one of the most beautiful clubs, one even mentioned by The Guardians, and it has a little orchard of prickly pears. Following the club’s programme you can find there very interesting concerts orr dj sets”. What to do in the city, then? “Just wandering in the town centre“.

Biography

At the beginning of the 1980’s he meets three young musicians and he founds with them the Denovo band. This band mixes lightness and intelligence, British pop and Mediterranean sounds, and their five albums make the Denovo the Italian pop stars. They also play at the Sanremo Festival. In 1990 the band dissolves, but the cult remains for years to come. In 1994, Venuti’s first album as a soloist “Un Po’ di Febbre” is out, in 1996 he writes Un Amore di Plastica and La Semplicità with who was then the still unknown Carmen Consoli. That same year his second album “Microclima” is out. In 1997 he is at the Sanremo Giovani contest. In January 2003, thanks to Nuccio La Ferlita’s indipendent label “Musica & Suoni” he publishes “Grandimprese”. In March 2004, Mario goes onto the Sanremo Festival’ stage with the song “Crudele” and he wins two prestigious prizes: the Premio Mia Martini (The Critics Prize) and the Premio Radio e TV Private. On the 3rd of March 2006 “Magneti” is out under the Universal’s label. In October 2009 Mario publishes his 7th album as a soloist, “Recidivo” including duets with Franco Battiato, Carmen Consoli and Cesare Cremonini. In October 2009 he also publishes The Universal Music Collection, 5 cds witnessing his long career and a dvd with images from the concert at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina in 2006.