Renzo
Arbore's greatest passion is probably radio. Surely
radio is his "first love", and he has showed
that recently by dedicating much of his newest television
program, "Speciale per me" to radio. We
never forget our first love.
In 1964 Renzo Arbore starts working in radio as master-programmer.
Only a year later, in 1965, he starts "Bandiera
Gialla" ("Yellow Flag") with Gianni
Boncompagni, a program of current international music
intended for a young audience. Along the same lines,
two years later he produces and hosts "Per voi
giovani" ("For you, youth"), an innovative
program not only in content but also in format and
in time placement. This is in fact the first experiment
with a daytime musical radio show. It's 1967.
1970 is the year of "Alto Gradimento" ("Highly
Satisfactory"). Even though there is much we
can say about this program, we would like to simply
invite you to listen to a few excerpts choosing from
any of the radio files available on this site. You'll
find yourself listening to something you might categorize
as fresh and contemporary and because of this fact
(and only because of this fact) you might actually
think you are listening to today's radio. "Alto
Gradimento", which is written and hosted by Arbore
(in collaboration with Boncompagni) is 35 years old,
but you could never tell! And, if we wanted to state
that this unforgettable and unforgotten radio program
has affected the history of radio by substituting
the old script with exuberant and inspired improvisation
that even today is looked at as an example of the
best live radio, we could because we are confident
we are saying the truth. Arbore will make live improvisation
his artistic credo for all his future shows, in television
and in radio. It is a choice born out of a fresh interpretation
of the idea of entertainment, where the atmosphere
is intimate and spontaneity is valued. .
Later, when other commitments with television, and
later with film, keep Arbore away from radio, he will
never miss the opportunity to give tribute to "his
first love". That is the case with the celebration
of the sixtieth anniversary of RAI, in 1984, when
he conceives and produces "Cari amici vicini
e lontani" ("Dear friends, far and near")
bringing together for the first time television and
radio in a festive and original pairing celebrating
legendary radio personalities, which at long last
return to being protagonists together with radio itself
which is always the protagonist in Arbore's programs
and in his heart.
