Some letters that the young Lucio Battisti sent to his mother Dea between 1963 and 1965 will be auctioned off on 26 June by Finarte in Rome. A correspondence that recounts his early years, between hopes, economic difficulties and the determination to establish himself in the world of music.
In a letter dated 15 October 1963, when he was twenty years old and had recently started playing with I Mattatori, Battisti reassured his mother about his living conditions away from home: “As far as my stay in Verona is concerned, you can rest assured: I eat three times a day and sleep adequately. We always go around in the car and then it's not that cold. I really hope that things go well because a few days ago I started to feel a little homesick for school again, but perhaps it was because those were the times carefree and because as I grow I have to face bigger problems. We are working hard to be able to break through with all the cards in order.”
In the letters, the future singer-songwriter talks about his daily life as a traveling musician, his accommodations, the expenses for food and accommodation, the necessary purchases and the difficulties encountered along the way. At the same time he tries to reassure the family regarding the choice to dedicate himself completely to music: “And tell dad not to worry or always regret the same old things, that I'm fine and I'm living the life I like, with no more inferiority complexes or stomach complexes or anything else. Bye, Lucio”.
The letters also reveal the support of the mother, who encourages her son to pursue his artistic dream. In a response he writes: “The most important thing now is your songs, which we hope will find the right path and you can make your dream come true. You always get along with everyone but especially with Roberto (it was Roby Matano, leader of I Campioni, ed), who, despite having spoken to him for little, I already understood that he is a sincere boy. Listen to his advice, in fact if he is so kind, you can ask him because in every environment a loyal friendship is necessary.”
According to Fabio Massimo Bertolo, specialist in Finarte's manuscript department, the material offers precious testimony to the artist's human and professional training. “The years are those of his debut, 1963-1965 – explains Bertolo to Adnkronos – These are dozens of letters to his mother, and from his mother to him, which alternate with recording contracts, but above all probably unpublished lyrics of songs written at the beginning, on loose sheets of all types. The letters come from Verona, Turin, Milan, Diano Marina, Trani and then The Hague, for his first tour abroad (Germany and Holland) with The Champions”.
Among the most significant documents is a letter sent from Turin on 19 November 1965, in which Battisti announces a decisive step in his career: “The work seems to be going well. I have concluded the contract with Ricordi and on the 26th I am going to Milan for the recording. There was some uncertainty because Ricordi had proposed conditions to me that I could not accept but then we discussed, I made my requests and the contract was made according to my requests. For the moment I have to record two of my songs done together with Mogol. The album will be ready, we'll see what can be done. In the meantime, another song of mine (Il giorno che) has been recorded and will be published soon”.
The letter anticipated by several months what would become one of the most important collaborations in Italian music, confirming that Battisti and Mogol were already writing together in November 1965. As for “Il giorno che”, the song was never published, but part of the musical material would later be reworked by Battisti to give life to “Mi ordini in mente”, one of his most famous successes.
The auction catalog also includes two guitars that belonged to the singer-songwriter, including the first received as a gift from his father and one of the first used in concerts, as well as some paintings created by Battisti himself. A set of documents and objects that restores the portrait of a young artist still at the beginning, but already convinced of being able to transform his passion into a profession.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
