Roberto Vecchioni announces months-long singing pause after Rome show

Return to the stage in Rome

Italian singer-songwriter Roberto Vecchioni concluded his "Tra il silenzio e il tuono" tour with a sold-out concert at Teatro Brancaccio in Rome. The title of the stage show was drawn from his song "Chiamami ancora amore", combining retrospective monologues with live songs from across his career. The Rome performance had originally been scheduled for 6 March, but organizers cancelled that date when medical complications forced Vecchioni into hospital care. The 83-year-old artist greeted the audience with an emotional address, explaining that his return to the stage would immediately precede another extended hiatus from live singing.

Stay close to me. A thousand on this side and a thousand on that side, because I am very emotional after months and months without singing. And this will perhaps be the last time for just as many months in which I will not be able to sing.

Hospitalization and ongoing recovery

Vecchioni shared details of his hospitalization with the audience, noting that he had spent time in intensive care with a breathing tube in his throat. During that period, he asked an attending nurse whether he was dying, to which she answered that everyone dies eventually. The prolonged illness interrupted his creative work, forcing him to pause recording on a new album after completing only half of the material. He told the Rome crowd that while his rehabilitation remains difficult and unfinished, he was determined to make up for the postponed date by performing in person.

For me this is a wonderful evening, I would not have given it up for anything in the world because when I was supposed to come here a while ago I was in hospital, with a tube down my throat. And today, while I am still convalescing but also tough, I have remedied my fault by returning to you.

Concert dates in Milan and Salerno

The Rome concert followed a series of health-related cancellations across Italy. On 25 September, Vecchioni withdrew from a planned appearance at Teatro Verdi in Salerno, where organizers had arranged to award him the Grandi Protagonisti dello Spettacolo prize during the 38th edition of the Premio Charlot. Three days later, on 28 September, he performed in Milan before an audience that included 23 invited medical staff members from the Fatebenefratelli hospital. Among the medical guests were four cardiologists, three of whom had advised against him performing, while the fourth believed he could manage the concert. Vecchioni chose to follow the fourth cardiologist's advice, arguing that intention and content matter more than form.

Stage monologues and future plans

Between musical selections at the Brancaccio, Vecchioni offered commentary on Italian civic culture and world affairs. He criticized the Campidoglio in Rome for awarding a cultural prize to televangelists Vanna Marchi and Stefania Nobile, made reference to the geopolitical climate under Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and dedicated a tribute to singer Francesco Guccini, noting that Guccini had sung a song composed by him. After news of his hiatus prompted concern from fans, Vecchioni issued a clarification on Instagram to state that his health pause does not mark the end of his musical career.

A few ailments at my age I can afford, but do not worry, I will continue to sing. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.