Sanremo Festival

The renowned music festival of Sanremo is held annually in this Ligurian coastal city, near the French border. Formally known as the "festival of italian song" the contest has served to launch many a career of now-famous singers and songwriters. Domenico Modugno debuted "Volare" here (actually titled "Nel Blu Depinto di Blu"), and other hits. Andrea Bocelli gained fame at Sanremo, as did Laura Pausini, Giorgia, Arisa and Emma, now well-recognized names in the Italian music scene. It also featured big international singers like Connie Francis, Louis Armstrong and Wilson Pickett.

The festival was started in 1951, the brainchild of the administration of the Sanremo Casino and the RAI Orchestra, to revitalize the city's cultural scene in the post-war period. It was broadcast live on RAI television, as it has been every year since, and was a platform to highlight composers rather than singers. Each song was sung to two different singers in the early years, to draw attention to its possible interpretations, giving attention to the music itself. The focus shifted through the decades and has become as much (if not more) about the singers than the songwriters.

Since 1976, the Sanremo Festival has been held at the Ariston Theater and is still a beloved event, that millions of Italians tune in to watch devotedly, discussing each evening's performances the next morning at the coffee bars and offices.