A cascade of red roses adorned the wake of legendary presenter Pippo Baudo at Rome’s Teatro delle Vittorie, transforming the space into a vivid tribute. The flowers covered the cushion atop his coffin, filled four ivory pedestals, and formed wreaths from state broadcaster RAI and other institutions, mirroring the red curtain behind the bier of the 89-year-old who passed away Saturday during prime time.
Over 8,000 mourners, including prominent figures from Italian entertainment deeply influenced by Baudo’s cultural legacy, filed past the casket during the public viewing, which concluded at 8 PM Monday. A final session will be held Tuesday morning before the body is transferred to his Sicilian hometown of Militello in Val di Catania for Wednesday’s funeral.
Early arrivals included Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, lawyer Giorgio Assumma, presenter Gigi Marzullo, and actress Gloria Guida. Baudo’s ex-wife, soprano Katia Ricciarelli, entered arm-in-arm with colleague Mara Venier, both visibly emotional. Ricciarelli later departed teary-eyed, clutching one of the countless roses.
The procession of grief-stricken celebrities was constant, featuring Eros Ramazzotti (“The best, the best… it’s hard”), Max Giusti, Fabrizio Moro, the duo Jalisse, and actor Lino Banfi. Banfi recalled their lighthearted bond as the “Four B’s of ’36” – Banfi, Baudo, Pope Francis (Bergoglio), and Silvio Berlusconi – sighing, “Alas, only I remain.”
Singer Giorgia, arriving hand-in-hand with Gianni Morandi, broke down in the arms of Baudo’s long-time assistant Dina, confessing, “He believed in me so much, even more than I believed in myself at the start.” Laura Pausini, accompanied by Paola Cortellesi and Riccardo Milani, shared Baudo’s career advice: “Remember Laura, sing eternal songs, don’t settle for just singing,” crediting him for teaching her to balance professional demands with private life.
RAI CEO Giampaolo Rossi confirmed the board would evaluate Banfi’s proposal to rename the Teatro delle Vittorie after Baudo, calling him “a RAI man even in times of crisis.” While Carlo Conti stated the main dressing room at Sanremo’s Ariston Theatre will bear Baudo’s name (“an honour to enter”), he deemed talk of a namesake award premature. Conti somberly noted Baudo’s death meant television itself “has gone dark.”
Rosario Fiorello quipped about replacing RAI headquarters’ iconic horse statue with one of Baudo. Conti reflected on the upcoming Sanremo Festival, the first without Baudo, stating definitively: “There are no heirs. It’s impossible to be one.”
Riproduzione riservata © Copyright ANSA